Correlating spacing in the primary dentition and caries experience in preschool children

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between spacing in the primary dentition and caries experience. Methods: One hundred seventy-four clinical records, including photographs during 2017–2019 were assessed for primate, generalised and interdental spaces. The mean of decayed, missing or filled teeth and surfaces (dmft and dmfs) were recorded to quantify the caries experience. Linear regression analyses were used to ascertain correlations between spacing and dental caries. The strength of the associations was quantified using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Ninety-seven boys and 77 girls were included in the final analysis. Approximately 41% of children had primate space in all four quadrants, and 15% of children had no primate spaces in all four quadrants. 50% of children did not exhibit generalised spacing, while 39% of children showed interdental spacing. Children with no primate space had approximately five surfaces higher dmfs score compared to those with primate space in all four quadrants (95% CI − 9.27 to − 1.23; p < 0.05). Similarly, children with no primate space in the mandible had 6.12 surfaces higher dmfs score compared to those with primate space in the mandibular arch (95% CI − 10.07 to − 2.17; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Preschool children with no primate space exhibited a 50% increase in dmfs scores compared to children with primate space.