For the purpose of ascertaining more information about the characteristics of deciduous dentition presented by the Brazilian children, a prevalence study was performed. Four hundred children with complete deciduous dentitions and age ranging from 2 to 6 years, were examined in Petrópolis - RJ - Brazil. The type I arch was the most prevalent in the upper arch (93.2%) and in the lower arch (90.5%). The type II upper arch was more common in the females (p < 0.01). The primate spaces were the most frequent spaces found in both arches. The association between the presence of interdental spaces and age was statistically significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that there is a tendency for the spaces to close with age.
Primary dentition; Dental occlusion; Preschool child; Child
