The impact of premature extraction of primary teeth on the dimensions of the supporting dental segment

Introduction: Primary teeth, in addition to their role in mastication, phonation and aesthetics, also have a key function in maintaining space for the eruption of permanent teeth. The period from 2 to 6 years is the phase of the primary dentition, characterized by intensive growth and development, as well as the appearance of physiological diastemas, important for the correct placement of permanent teeth. Aim: The aim of this paper is to determine the frequency of premature extractions of primary teeth from the CP2 segment. Materials and methods: The study included 120 children from grades II and IV (60 in each group). An intraoral clinical examination was performed with standard dental instruments. Measurements of the CP2 segment were performed in the oral cavity with a Dentaurum Sononius caliper, with a precision of 0.1 mm. Results: In 56 out of 120 respondents (46.6%), premature extraction of primary teeth was recorded, which indicates a high prevalence of this problem in the analyzed population. Conclusion: It was determined that the shortening of the space in the support zone is more pronounced in children who had premature extractions of primary teeth in the period of early mixed dentition, with the first milk molars most often extracted.