title: Prevalence of prematurely lost primary teeth in 5-10-year-old children in Thamar city, Yemen: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The premature loss of primary teeth is a potential risk factor for poor arch length development. Adequate arch length is important to the progression of the permanent teeth. Poor arch length can lead to crowding, ectopic eruption, or impaction of these teeth. This study is designed to assess the prevalence of premature loss of primary teeth in the 5-10-year-old age group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 185 children, that is, 91 boys and 94 girls. The dental examination was conducted by an experienced examiner under sufficient artificial light. Data including patient age and missing teeth were collected. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis, and from the results, Chi-square tests were used at a level of significance of 5% (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a 40.54% prevalence of premature loss of primary teeth with no statistically significant difference between genders. The lower left primary second molar was the most commonly absent tooth in the dental arch (13.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The status of premature loss of primary teeth was high in the study group. Implementation of efficient educational and preventive programs to promote oral health would help children maintain a healthy primary dentition and eventually prevent the disturbances in the future development of normal occlusion. Early detection and management of the space problems associated with the early loss of primary teeth would help in reducing malocclusion problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Orthodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Thamar City, Yemen.
authors.forename: Sakhr A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Murshid
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana'a University, Sana'a City, Yemen.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Labani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Orthodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Thamar City, Yemen.
authors.forename: Khalid A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Aldhorae
authors.affiliation: School of Oral Health and Welfare, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima City, Japan.
authors.forename: Omar M M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Rodis
keywords: Malocclusion; premature tooth loss; prevalence; primary teeth