Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
Prevalence of cross-bite in a sample of Italian preschoolers
R Ferro1, A Besostri1, A Olivieri2
1Dentistry Unit, Cittadella Hospital, Health District n. 15 Veneto Region, Cittadella (PD), Italy.
Insights
The prevalence of cross-bite in children aged 3-5 years in Northeast Italy was found to be 3.7%. This rate is considered low compared to international data, with no significant gender-based differences observed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Public Health
Background:
- Cross-bite is a common malocclusion in children.
- Early detection and prevalence studies are crucial for timely intervention.
- Understanding regional variations in cross-bite prevalence is important for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of cross-bite in a pediatric population in Northeast Italy.
- To analyze potential gender-based differences in cross-bite prevalence.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1960 children aged 3-5 years.
- Children were recruited from 27 randomly selected nursery schools in the Veneto region.
- Clinical examinations were performed by calibrated dentists to identify anterior and posterior cross-bite.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of cross-bite was 3.7%.
- A slightly higher prevalence was noted in females, but this difference was not statistically significant.
- The study established baseline cross-bite data for this specific Italian region.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of cross-bite in the studied population is low when compared to European and American data.
- Findings suggest that targeted orthodontic interventions may be less frequently required in this specific demographic compared to other regions.
- Further longitudinal studies could explore the long-term implications and potential contributing factors to this observed prevalence.
Aim:
To clinically evaluate the prevalence of cross-bite in a sample of 1960 children in our Local Health Unit n. 15 Alta Padovana (Veneto region, Northeast Italy).
Methods:
Study design: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the area of Health District n. 15, Veneto region, including 7,364 children from 3 to 5 years, attending a total of 88 nursery schools A convenience sample of 27 nursery schools (30% of total) was randomly selected, for a total of 2,603 eligible children; of these, 1960 children formed our study base (76%). The day of examination 566 children were absent and 77 did not meet the inclusion criteria by age (less than 3 or more than 5 years old). Anterior cross-bite was considered when one or more primary or permanent mandibular incisors occluded labially to their antagonists. Posterior cross-bite (uni- or bilateral) was considered when the buccal cusps of one or more maxillary teeth was lingual to the buccal cusps of the mandibular teeth of the primary dentition. In this definition, edge to edge occlusion is not regarded as cross-bite. The examination was carried out by two calibrated dentists with children sitting on a dental chair with good operative lighting. The data were recorded in a special clinical chart.
Results:
The prevalence of cross-bite was 3.7%. We observed a slight prevalence of cross-bite in females, but with no overall statistical significance.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of cross-bite in this area was low compared with European and American data.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...