Association between Maxillary and Mandibular Length and Crowding in Classes 1, 2, and 3 Skeletal Malocclusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The relationship between dental crowding and skeletal base length is essential to recognize and consider during the stage of treatment planning. Aim: To determine the correlation between maxillary and mandibular length and the quantum of crowding in various malocclusions. Methods: Seven electronic databases-PubMed, OVID, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and SciELO-were searched until April 2024 with no restriction on the year of publication. The risk of bias (RoB) assessment was performed using Downs and Black's quality assessment tool. Results: A total of five articles that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included, and two articles were used for meta-analysis. Four studies showed a low RoB, and one showed a moderate RoB. Meta-analysis revealed that in class 2 skeletal malocclusion, there was a 4 mm reduction in mandibular length in patients with mandibular crowding >3 mm (95% CI: -5.69 to -2.32; I 2 = 0%) in comparison with patients with mandibular crowding <3 mm. Conclusion: According to the existing evidence, the quantum of crowding was moderate to severe in class 2 skeletal malocclusion with reduced mandibular base length and minimal in class 3 skeletal malocclusion with greater mandibular base length. Clinical significance: The study highlights a significant correlation between maxillary and mandibular lengths and dental crowding across classes 1, 2, and 3 skeletal malocclusions. Understanding these associations can improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning in orthodontics. The findings emphasize the need for tailored approaches based on skeletal discrepancies to effectively manage dental crowding. How to cite this article: Lucas M, Kannan A, Kailasam V. Association between Maxillary and Mandibular Length and Crowding in Classes 1, 2, and 3 Skeletal Malocclusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(12):1517-1525.