title: Characteristics of primary dentition occlusion in a group of Saudi children.
abstract: Occlusal characteristics of the primary dentition vary among populations and ethnic groups. This cross-sectional study aimed to record various primary dentition parameters in 520 3-5-year-old randomly selected Saudi children and to observe the differences between the age groups. 80% of the children had a 'flush terminal plane' molar relationship. The proportion of the children with 'distal step' molar relationship was significantly lower at age 5 (7%) than at age 3 (16%). 86% of the children had Class I canine relationship, with no significant differences between the age groups. The degree of overbite was significantly less in the 5-year-olds than in the 3-year-olds. The majority of the children (76%) had an overjet of 0-2 mm, but the prevalence of 0-1 mm overjet was significantly higher, and that of 2-3 mm significantly lower, in the elder age group. The prevalence of anterior crossbite was 2% and of posterior crossbite 4%. The prevalence of malocclusion was lower in these subjects than in some Caucasian populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Farsi
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Salama
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008963:Molar; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous