Frequency of Dental Midline Deviation in School Children of Lahore, Pakistan: A Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of midline deviation in different age groups of school children of Lahore, Pakistan. Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was performed in 7 different schools of Lahore, from March to May, 2019. Materials and Methods: A total sample of 300 children (190 girls, 110 boys) whose ages were between 8 to 16 years. Midline deviations were observed with scale in millimeters by taking the philtrum as a reference landmark. The statistical analysis was implemented with SPSS version 20. Qualitative data like gender, midline deviation and type of dentition was presented in the form of frequency and percentage. Data was stratified for gender and dentition. Post-stratification chi -square test was applied with p-value ≤ 0.05 considered as significant. Results: Frequency of midline deviation was found to be 69.7% of which mandibular midline deviation was more frequent (45.7%) followed by maxillary midline deviation (12.7%), with the severity of 2mm being most common (42.3%). Deviation of both midlines was observed in 11.3% of students. The difference of frequency of midline shift in gender (p=0.924) and dentition (p=0.109) was insignificant. Conclusion: The study concluded that mandibular dental midline deviation from the facial midline was most commonly seen followed by maxillary midline deviation most likely towards right side of face. No significant differences were displayed with regard to gender and dentition.