Characteristics of occlusion in primary dentition of preschool children of Udaipur, India

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study aimed to study the occlusion characteristics of the primary dentition in a group of 3-5 year-old Indian children and the differences with age in the same group.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey based on examination of the primary dentition of 200 preschool children aged 3-5 years who were selected from nursery schools in Udaipur, India, using a stratified random sampling technique. The study group was assessed for the several occlusal parameters, which included primary molar and canine relationship, degree of overjet and overbite, anterior and posterior crossbite, and the presence or absence of physiologic spaces and crowding.

Results: Flush terminal plane was more common at 3-4 years of age, mesial step at 4-5 years, and class I canine relationship in both age groups. The prevalence of overjet less than 1 mm and overjet exceeding 1 mm was almost comparable in both groups. Overbite with less than 30% overlap was most frequently observed in both age groups, with 30-60% overlap following closely behind. Physiologic and primate spacing were observed in less than half of the children examined, while a small percentage displayed the presence of either single-segment or two-segment crowding.

Conclusion: The present study provided insight into the state of dentition, occlusal pattern, spacing, and crowding in the primary dentition of Indian children of Udaipur. (Eur J Dent 2012;6:51-55)

Key words

Primary occlusion - occlusion - occlusion characteristics - primary dentition

• REFERENCES

• 1 Infante PF. An epidemiologic study of deciduous molar relations in preschool children. J Dent Res 1975;54:723-727.
• 2 Foster TD, Grundy MC. Occlusal changes from primary to permanent dentition. Br Dent Orthod 1986;13:187-193.
• 3 Foster TD, Hamilton MC. Occlusion in the primary dentition, study of children at 2 1⁄2 to 3 years of age. Br Dent J 1969;126:76-79.
• 4 Nanda RS, Khan I, Anand R. Age changes in the occlusal pattern of deciduous dentition. J Dent Res 1973;52:221-224.
• 5 Kohler L, Hoslt K. Malocclusion and sucking habit of 4-years-old children. Acta Paediatr Scand 1973;62:373-379.
• 6 Infante PF. Malocclusion in deciduous dentition in white, black and Apache Indian children. Angle Orthod 1975;45:213-218.
• 7 Ravn JJ. Longitudinal study of occlusion in the primary dentition in 3-7 year old children. Scand J Dent Res 1980;88:165-170.
• 8 Kerosuo H. Occlusion in primary and early mixed dentition in a group of Tanzanian and Finnish children. J Dent Child 1990;57:293-298.
• 9 Kritsineli M, Shim Y. Malocclusion, body posture, and temporomandibular disorder in children with primary and mixed dentition. J Clin Pediatr Dent 1992;16:86-93.
• 10 Jones ML, Murino AP, Bowden TA. Evaluation of occlusion, trauma and dental anomalies in African-American children of metropolitan Headstart programmes. J Clin Pediatr Dent 1993;18:51-54.
• 11 Farsi MA and Salama FS. Characteristics of primary dentition in group of Saudi children. Int J Paediatr Dent 1996;6:253-259.
• 12 Otuyemi OD, Sote EO, Isiekwe MC, Jones SP. Occlusal relationship and spacing or crowding of teeth in the dentitions of 3-4 years-old Nigerian children. Int J Paediatr Dent 1997;7:155-160.
• 13 Abu Alhaija ESJ, Qudeimat MA. Occlusion and tooth/arch dimension in primary dentition of preschool Jordanian children. Int J Paediatr Dent 2003;13:230-239.