Prevalence of open gingival embrasures after comprehensive orthodontic treatment at the Wits Oral Health Centre

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of open gingival embrasure (OGE) on central incisors among patients after comprehensive orthodontic treatment at the Wits Oral Health Centre. Methodology: This retrospective study reviewed the intraoral records of patients who began treatment between January 1, 2016, and December 30, 2020, using convenience sampling. Anterior crowding and incisor rotation were measured on pre-treatment study models of patients. Post-treatment OGEs were assessed on frontal intraoral photographs. Results: In the maxilla, 39% of patients developed OGE post-treatment, and 47% had OGE in the mandible. OGE was present in 32% of individuals under 18 and 50% of those aged 18 and older in the maxillary region. In the mandible, 44% of those under 18 and 50% of older individuals had OGE. OGE was observed in 41% of central incisor labial rotation corrections and 29% of lingual rotation corrections within the maxilla. In comparison, 50% of labial rotation correction and 38% of lingual rotation correction had OGE in the mandible. In the maxillary region, cases with post-treatment OGE had a median anteroposterior (AP) central incisor crowding of 0.75 mm (range: 0-1.75) and transverse crowding of 0 mm (range: 0-0.25) pre-treatment. In the mandibular region, cases with OGE had a median AP crowding of 1mm (range: 0.5-1), while transverse crowding had a median of 0mm (range: 0-0) pre-treatment. No statistically significant association was found between pre-treatment crowding, tooth rotation, age, or sex and the occurrence of post-treatment OGE. Conclusions: OGE frequently developed following orthodontic treatment, with a higher prevalence in the mandible compared to the maxilla.