Prevalence and gender differences of buccally displaced canines of 12 years school children and 18-23 years adults in Shah-Alam, Malaysia

Background: The buccally displaced canines (BDC) are more commonly encountered conditions in orthodontic clinics. It is a positional variation result of several factors such as retained deciduous canines, crowding, and lateral incisors anomalous. Aims: To determine the prevalence and gender differences of one-two-three-four buccally displaced canines in the area of Shah-Alam, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 399 subjects; was consist of two age groups; 208 subjects of school children aged 12 years and 191 subjects of adults aged 18-23 years were examined clinically to determine the prevalence of BDC. Statistical analysis: The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 16; a Chi-square test was performed to assess the gender differences. Results: No gender differences were found in the school-children group while in the adults group a significant gender difference was found regarding one and four canine displacements (P < 0.05). The prevalence of one-two-three canine displacement was higher significantly between the two groups (P < 0.05). However, the frequency of one canine displacement was higher significantly in adult females and girls (P < 0.05). The frequency of three canines displacement was approximately equal in both genders. Conclusion: The frequency of one canine displacement was higher significantly in females. However, the frequency of four canines displacement was higher significantly in males. These features may help in providing additional clinical signs in diagnosis and interception of such clinical situation. It will be effective in treatment plan procedure if canine displacement is detected early, help clinicians on the prevention of impaction possibility.