Gender influence on occlusal characteristics in the primary dentition

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess and discuss the influence of gender on occlusal characteristics of primary dentition. Materials and Methods: In this study, cluster randomized sampling was done to select 4-6-year-old children from Government primary schools of Farukh Nagar block, Gurgaon, Haryana, India. Children were evaluated clinically for occlusal characteristics of primary dentition such as molar relation, Canine relation, overjet, overbite, openbite, scissors bite, and crossbite. Chi-square test was used to compare the occlusal characteristics of both genders. Results: Flush terminal plane, Class I Canine relation and both primate as well as developmental spaces were found to be prevalent in the study population, in percentages of 62.4%, 67.2%, and 37.6%, respectively. It was observed that females had more spacing, distal step molar relation and increased overjet as compared to males. Males had more Class II Canine relation, crowding, openbite, overbite, and incompetent lips as compared to females. Significant differences were found between males and females w.r.t various occlusal characteristics. Conclusion: Most of the children had gender influence on malocclusion, which indicates the need for early interception or correction of malocclusion traits based on the gender of the child.