The effect of dental caries on facial and dento-occlusal characteristics in primary dentition

Purpose: Dental caries in the primary dentition can affect not only dental tissues but also dento-occlusal and facial characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dental caries on dento-occlusal and facial characteristics in patients diagnosed with severe early childhood caries. Method: The study evaluated 240 patients diagnosed with severe early childhood caries by retrospectively analysing the examination forms of patients aged 3, 4 and 5 years. Molar and canine relationship, interdental spaces, primate diastema, crowding, overjet, overbite, openbite and dental midline deviation were used in the dento-occlusal evaluation of the patients. Facial profile, vertical facial analysis, facial asymmetry and midline deviation findings were used in determining facial characteristics.Data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis H test, Dunn's test, Pearson's chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test with Monte Carlo correction (p < 0.05). Findings: The most common molar relationship was the vertical terminal plane, and the most frequent canine relationship was Class I. Interdental spaces were absent in 46.7% of patients. Primate spaces were observed in most patients, while 69.6% showed no crowding. Overjet values were within normal limits. A statistically significant association was found between overbite and age groups (p = 0.016). Dental midline deviation was observed in 71.7% of patients. Most patients had a straight profile and proportional facial structure; facial asymmetry was not detected. Conclusion: Dental caries in the primary dentition may negatively affect dento-occlusal characteristics. Although no direct skeletal effect was observed, dental deviations may influence facial development over time.