Conference abstract
Acceptability of midline diastema among dental technician students at the University College Hospital, Ibadan
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2022:13(22).03
Feb 2022.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2022.13.22.882
Archived on: 03 Feb 2022
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Acceptability, dental technician students, diastema, jaws, malocclusion
Oral presentation
Acceptability of midline diastema among dental technician students at the University College Hospital, Ibadan
Orighoye Tosan1, Olanrewaju Ige Opeodu2,&
1Department of Child Oral Health, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Introduction: midline diastema is a gap that is occasionally seen either between the maxillary central incisors or the mandibular central incisors or seen in both arches of an individual that is greater than 0.5mm. The prevalence of midline diastema varies according to racial background, age group, gender, culture and ethnicity. While it is generally regarded as a form of malocclusion, some cultures have come to accept it as adding to their beauty. The objective of the study was to assess the acceptability of midline diastema among respondents in relations to their gender and age.
Methods: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 129 dental technician students that were on clinical rotation to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Results: 164 respondents consisting of 16 (9.8%) males and 148 (90.2%) females, with mean age of 24.37 (S.D. ±4.02) years were interviewed. Midline diastema was observed in 46 (28.0%) of the respondents, with a distribution pattern of 32 (19.5%) seen in the maxilla alone, 11 (6.7%) affecting both jaws. Thirty-one (31/46) of the affected respondents agreed that their diastema is acceptable and added to beauty. This gives an acceptance rate of 67.39% among those that had the diastema.
Conclusion: contrary to the belief that it is a form of mal-occlusion, midline diastema was widely acceptable among respondents as adding to their beauty.
Acceptability of midline diastema among dental technician students at the University College Hospital, Ibadan
Orighoye Tosan1, Olanrewaju Ige Opeodu2,&
1Department of Child Oral Health, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Introduction: midline diastema is a gap that is occasionally seen either between the maxillary central incisors or the mandibular central incisors or seen in both arches of an individual that is greater than 0.5mm. The prevalence of midline diastema varies according to racial background, age group, gender, culture and ethnicity. While it is generally regarded as a form of malocclusion, some cultures have come to accept it as adding to their beauty. The objective of the study was to assess the acceptability of midline diastema among respondents in relations to their gender and age.
Methods: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 129 dental technician students that were on clinical rotation to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Results: 164 respondents consisting of 16 (9.8%) males and 148 (90.2%) females, with mean age of 24.37 (S.D. ±4.02) years were interviewed. Midline diastema was observed in 46 (28.0%) of the respondents, with a distribution pattern of 32 (19.5%) seen in the maxilla alone, 11 (6.7%) affecting both jaws. Thirty-one (31/46) of the affected respondents agreed that their diastema is acceptable and added to beauty. This gives an acceptance rate of 67.39% among those that had the diastema.
Conclusion: contrary to the belief that it is a form of mal-occlusion, midline diastema was widely acceptable among respondents as adding to their beauty.
