[An epidemiological survey on fusion of deciduous teeth of 4286 kindergarten children in Shenyang city].

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the occurrence and distribution of the fusion of deciduous teeth in Shenyang.

METHODS

By using cross-sectional study, 4286 children were examined, who aged from 2 to 6 years in 37 kindergartens.

RESULTS

Of 4286 children investigated, fusion of the deciduous teeth were detected in 65 children (1.52 percent) without sex predilection. The fused teeth typically occurred unilaterally (68.75 percent), and mainly located in the anterior region, more frequently in the mandibular (91.25 percent) than that in the maxillary arch. 12 cases were bilaterally symmetrical (18.46 percent). Two rare cases were found with fused teeth, one occurred in central incisor, lateral incisor and canine, the other occurred between two molars with two incisors fused in the same side. Fused teeth in two cases had caries.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of the fused teeth may cause some complications. Pediatric dentists should pay attention to the fused teeth occurred in preschool children.