RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of premature loss of primary teeth and its effect on malocclusion in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional study that included 307 male children aged 9-11 years old. Clinical examinations were performed using a disposable sharp explorer, a UNC periodontal probe and a dental mirror. The samples were examined clinically to detect the following traits: Angle's classification of malocclusion, overjet, overbite, anterior open-bite, lateral open-bite, midline shift and cross-bite. Additionally, a dental caries examination was performed using WHO methods. Questionnaires in Arabic were coded and sent to the students' parents. RESULTS: The mean DMFT was 5.61 (SD = 3.01). The d-component was the highest, with a mean of 4 (SD = 2.83). Of the 307 children, it was found that 204 (66.4%) had a high DMFT score, which is defined as a score above 4. It was found that 156/307 (51%) children had premature loss of deciduous teeth. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of premature loss of teeth was found in this study. This finding emphasizes the importance of increasing awareness levels about this issue and focuses attention on the need for more preventive efforts to maintain healthy and normal dentitions that would improve the masticatory function and aesthetics of individuals and the whole population. In addition, the findings emphasize the importance of the early detection of premature loss of primary teeth to prevent future malocclusion.