The effect of a four-year caries prevention programme started at six-years of age on crowding in the early permanent dentition.

AIM: This research was conducted to study the effect of school-based caries prevention program on the crowding in the early permanent dentition. STUDY DESIGN: upper and lower arch crowding was compared between 78 subjects who had received a successful caries prevention programme and 94 control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study model was taken for each of the subjects. From these models the arch perimeter and the total tooth width were determined and the degree of upper and lower arch crowding was calculated. RESULTS: The total mesiodistal tooth widths in the upper and the lower arches in the prevention group were not significantly different from the total mesiodistal tooth widths in the control group. Nevertheless, due to a smaller arch perimeter, the degree of crowding was significantly greater in the control group in both arches. STATISTICS: Independent t-test was used to determine the differences between the two groups. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. CONCLUSION: A successful caries prevention programme started at the age of six years results in reduction of upper and lower arch crowding in the early permanent dentition.