ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge and awareness of dental interns and general practitioners in Saudi Arabia about late mandibular incisor crowding.   

Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study which was conducted between June 2020 and July 2020 in Saudi Arabia and it observed dental practitioners.

Results: A total of 275 subjects were included in this study; 172 (62.5%) were dental interns, 157 (57.1%) were females and 211 (76.7%) dentists were aged between 23-26 years. While most general practitioners and dental interns have heard about late mandibular incisors crowding, the majority continue to abstain from not recommending extraction of lower third molar as a means of prevention. Around half of the respondents, 134 (48.7%), claimed that the eruption of lower third molars is a possible causative factor. A greater percentage of general dental practitioners, 32 (31.1%) believed that there is a correlation between late mandibular incisors crowding and cases of relapse after an orthodontic treatment. Moreover, male participants were more knowledgeable of the fact that cases may worsen if not treated (P = 0.019). The knowledge of lower third molars eruption (P = 0.002) and unerupted/impacted lower third molars (P = 0.034) ability to cause late mandibular incisors crowding and the prophylactic extraction of the lower third molars (P = 0.009) were also significantly differed across the various age groups.

Conclusion: Late mandibular incisor crowding is one of the main clinical issues in dental practice which has been subject to decreased awareness among dentists.