Oral Health and Occlusion in Tunisian Preschool Children

Many studies reported the importance of the deciduous dentition and its rich pathology. A close relationship was also noted between occlusion in deciduous and in permanent dentitions. The follow-up and the early management of slight malocclusion in children can prevent the appearance of malocclusion in permanent dentition. A literature review reported that the flush terminal plane relationship was accepted as the norm in the complete deciduous dentition, but some authors did not support this view. Aim: The purpose of this study conducted in Tunisian preschoolers was to assess the oral health and the occlusal patterns in primary dentition. Material and Methods: The study consisted in a cross sectional survey covering 392 preschool children; 197 females (50.3%) and 195 males (49.7%) aged from 3 to 5 years in kindergarten of Moknine (Tunisia). Oral examination was carried out in order to assess the oral health status and the occlusion characteristics. Results: Dental caries affected 140 children (35.7%). A mean dmft of 1.12 ± 1.97 was noted with 426 decayed teeth (mean 1.10 ± 1.0), five-missed (mean 0.01 ± 0.8) and 9 filled (mean 0.01 ± 0.05); the Significant Caries Index value (SiC) was about 5.57 ± 2.26 dmft. Among 326 children in deciduous dentition 68.7% presented spaced teeth. Dental eruption was earlier in girls. The prevalence of malocclusion was about 24.7% and flush plane was the most frequent type of terminal molar relationship in deciduous dentition, followed by the mesial step than the distal step with 81%, 15% and 4%, respectively. Conclusion: The present paper gave an outline onto oral health status and occlusal patterns in Tunisian preschool children. The spaced dentition seemed more frequent than closed dentition and flush plane was the most frequent type of terminal molar relationship in deciduous dentition. \In spite its limits, the present paper aimed to assess the oral health and the occlusal patterns in primary dentition among status and occlusal patterns in Tunisian preschool children. The spaced dentition seemed more frequent than closed dentition and flush plane was the most frequent type of terminal molar relationship in deciduous dentition. In deciduous and mixed dentition, early interceptive treatment of some slight malocclusions can reduces significantly the need for orthodontic treatment in the permanent dentition