Pleasant look of dentition is of paramount importance, especially in adolescents and young adults. Midline shift is of prime factors affecting dental esthetics. The aim of this study was to determine dental midline shifting clinically in a group of Libyan patients. Material & Method: the study was carried out on 516 Libyan patients aged 16-36 years who were randomly selected from consecutive patients attending orthodontic clinic in Benghazi dental faculty in the period 1996- 2016. Inclusion criteria included a full set of permanent dentition excluding third molars, with no history of extraction or previous orthodontic treatment. The position of midline diastema determined by locating the position of the tip of the gingival papilla to the philtrum and coinciding them with the facial midline. Facial midline was determined by marking a point between nasion, the center of philtrum until pognion then relating upper and lower arches. Midline shift was measured by a scale. Results: about 26.55% of patients had a dental midline shift and more midline shift in the lower jaw. Shift to right side in 66 (12.79%) patients, and shift to left side in 27 (5.23%) patients. In the upper arch shift to right side was recorded in 32 (6.20%) patients and shift to left side in 12 (2.33%) patients. Conclusion:shift of the dental midline was more in the lower dental arch, especially to the right side. Although a much smaller number of patients had midline shift in the upper arch, it also was more to the right side.
)
View on SCiNiTO