Incidence and etiology of midline diastema in a population in South India (Madras)
In a cross-sectional study of midline diastemas in a South Indian (Madras) population, 9,774 patients aged 13–35 years were screened. True midline diastema was defined as one without periodontal/periapical involvement and with the presence of all anterior teeth in the arch. Sample purification resulted in a research sample of 166 patients with true midline diastemas. The incidence of true maxillary midline diastema (160/9774 — 1.6%) was greater than that of true mandibular midline diastemas (31/9774 — 0.3%). No direct etiologic factor for the midline diastemas was noted. Spacing in the anterior region was the most significant factor associated with the midline diastema.Abstract
Contributor Notes
S.M. Hashim Nainar was a House-surgeon in Madras Dental College at the time of the study. He is presently a graduate student in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
N. Gnanasundaram is Professor and Head of the Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Dental Radiology at Madras Dental College, ParkTown, Madras, India