Ugly Duckling Stage Simplified For Dental Students

Ugly Duckling Stage Simplified For Dental Students

• Ugly duckling stage is the transient form of malocclusion.
• It is also known as Broadbent phenomenon or physiological midline diastema
• It is known as ugly duckling stage since it represents a metamorphosis from an unaesthetic phase to an aesthetic phase.
• Ugly duckling stage occurs from 7 to 11 years of age.
• As the canine erupts they impinge over the roots of lateral incisors.
• Erupting pressure of canines leads the lateral incisor to erupt in oral cavity with distal divergence of crown.
• As the lateral incisor erupts completely the erupting pressure from the canine persist and is transmitted to central incisors which leads to the divergence of crown and convergence of roots towards midline.
• This effect causes midline diastema, which is self corrected later on.
• The temporary space which exists between central incisors and at times between central as well as lateral incisors closes spontaneously as canine come into occlusion. This is known as ugly duckling stage.

• If attempt is made to close this diastema, deleterious effects occur, i.e. canine get deflected from its path of eruption and the apex of lateral incisor get damaged.
• Total closure of diastema should not be done more than 2 mm.