Relationship between tooth irregularity and periodontal disease in children with regular dental visits

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate any association between irregular teeth and periodontal breakdown among children who attend dental clinics regularly.

Methods: The subjects were 80 children (39 females and 41 males) with a mean age of 12.38 ± 0.75 years. Each sub-ject had an alginate impression in the mandibular arch, periapical radiographs for the lower incisor teeth and clinical examination for periodontal health. Plaque accumulation, gingival condition and probing depth, bone level and status of lower incisor teeth contact areas were recorded. Spearman correlation test was used to observe any relationship

between the clinical variables.

Results: The average probing depth, gingival index and plaque index scores in the subjects studied were 1.3±0.25, 0.99±0.28 and 1.17±0.52 respectively. The average number of sites with labiolingual displacement with mesiodistal overlap was 1.81±1.30 and those without mesiodistal overlap was 1.39±1.10. The average number of contact areas with spacing was 0.59±1.23. The correlation observed between irregularity and periodontal health indicated no asso-ciation between the number and type of displacement and plaque accumulation, gingivitis, attachment loss and alveo-lar bone level.

Conclusion: There was no association between irregularity of teeth and periodontal diseases in presence of good oral hygiene.

1. Ainamo J. Relationship between malalignment of the teeth and periodontal disease. Scand J Dent Res.80: 104-110, 1972

2. Ingervall B, Jacobsson U, Nyman S. A clinical study of the relationship between crowding of teeth, plaque and gingival condition. J Clin Periodont.; 4: 214-222, 1977

3. Buckley LA. The relationships between malocclusion, gingival inflammation, plaque and calculus. J Periodont.

52: 35-40,1981

4. Behlfelt K, Ericsson L, Jacobson L, Linder-Aronson S. The occurance of plaque and gingivitis and its relationship to tooth alignment within the dental arches. J Clin Periodont. 8: 329-337,1981

5. Helm S, Petersen PE. Causal relation between malocclusion and periodontal health. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica 47: 224- 228. 1989

6. Addy, M, Griffiths GS, Dummer PMH, Kingdon A, Hicks R, Hunter ML, et al. The association between tooth irregularity and plaque accumulation, gingivitis, and caries in 11-12-year-old children.

Eu J Orthod. 10: 76-83. 1988

7. Ashley, FP, Usiskin LA, Wilson RF, Wagaiyu E. The relationship between irregularity of incisor teeth, plaque, and gingivitis: a study in a group of schoolchildren aged 11-14 years. Eu J Orthod. 20: 65-72. 1998

8. Silness J and Löe H. Periodontal disease in pregnancy II. Correlation between oral hygiene and periodontal condition. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica; 22: 121-135, 1964

9. Löe H and Silness J. Periodontal disease in pregnancy I. Prevalence and severity. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica; 21: 533, 1963

10. Dahlberg G. Statistical methods for medical and biological students. Interscience Publications, New York;1940

11. Cohen JA. A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational Psychological Measurement; 20: 37-46, 1960

12. Landis JR and Koch GG. The measurement of observer agreement for cathegorical data. Biometrics; 33:159-174, 1977

13- Griffiths GS, Addy M. Effects of malignment of teeth in the anterior segments on plaque accumulation. Journal of Clinical Periodontology; 8: 481-490, 1981

14. Årtun J, Osterberg SK. Periodontal status of teeth facing extraction sites long-term after orthodontic treatment. J Periodont 58: 24-29. 1987

15. Glans R, Larsson E, Ogaard B. Longitudinal changes in gingival condi-tion in crowded and uncrowded dentitions subjected to fixed orthodon-tic treatment. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop. 124: 679-682. 2003

16. Staufer K, Landmesser H Effects of crowding in the lower anterior seg-ment- a risk evaluation depending upon the degree of crowding. J Orofac Orthop. 65: 13-25,2004