The prevalence of dental midline deviations in a sample of young Iraqi adults

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of midline shift in relation to gender, location, and classification of malocclusion.

A total of 150 dentistry students aged 18-25 (93 females and 57 males) were picked at random from Mustansiriyah University. Dental midline shifting is evaluated by comparing the positions of the maxillary and mandibular dental midlines to the face midline, with the philtrum serving as a reference point.

About a quarter of the total sample had dental midline shift (26%) which was more prevalent in mandibular arch. The prevalence of dental midline shift was more common in females (60,5%). In general, dental midline deviation was more common in angle's Class I and Class II than Class III, while for the maxillary arch, it was common in angle's Class I and Class II, Divison 1, and for the mandibular arch, it was more common in angle's Class I and Class III. The deviation was more common to the right side in both arches.

A quarter of the total sample had dental midline shift, most of them were females, and the deviation was more common in the mandibular arch in Class I angle's classification.