Some Observations on Spacing in the Normal Deciduous Dentition of 100 Indian Children from Gujarat

Abstract

Plaster casts of 50 boys and 50 girls aged 3–6 years, from Gujarat, India, were studied to observe the pattern of spacing in the normal deciduous dental arches. Spaced type of dental arches were more common than closed type or ‘no spaces’ type. Spacing/no spacing appeared to behave independently between upper and lower arches and between the sexes. The amount of spacing was greater in males than in females. Bilateral anthropoid spaces did not exist as a single phenomenon. They occurred when some other spaces were also present. Anthropoid spaces were more in the upper arch than in the lower and more in males than in females. If anthropoid spaces occurred in the upper arch, they were frequently missing from the lower arch; this was observed more in females than males. Spacing on the left side was more than the right side. Spacing between the mandibular incisors was the greatest of all.