title: Incidence and etiology of midline diastema in a population in south India (Madras).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, School of Dental Medicine, Farmington 06032.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nainar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gnanasundaram
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003970:Diastema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007180:Incisor / Q000002:abnormalities; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D011897:Random Allocation; D014081:Tooth Extraction