title: Occlusal status in Asian male adults: prevalence and ethnic variation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the occlusal status in young Asian male adults of three ethnic groups. Study models of a sample of male army recruits (N = 339, age 17-22 years) with no history of orthodontic treatment were assessed. The ethnic proportions of the sample were Chinese 76.1% (n = 258), Malay 17.7% (n = 60), and Indian 6.2% (n = 21). British Standard Institute (BSI) and Angle's classification were used to determine incisor and molar relationships, respectively. Chi-square test or Fisher's Exact test was performed to compare the occlusal traits between ethnic groups. The distribution of incisor relationships of the total sample consisted of Class I = 48.1%, Class II/1 = 26.3%, Class II/2 = 3.2%, and Class III = 22.4%. Right Angle's molar relationships were 49.9%, 24.5%, and 24.2% whereas left Angle's molar relationships were 53.1%, 25.1%, and 21.2% for Class I, II, and III, respectively. Comparison between ethnic groups found that Indian subjects were more likely to have Class II/1 malocclusions and clinically missing permanent teeth (P < .05). The study found that the overall prevalence of malocclusion (BSI) was Class I, Class II/1, Class III, and Class II/2 in descending order of proportions. Angle's Class I molar was most prevalent followed by Class II and Class III relations. A significant difference in occlusal status between the ethnic groups was found regarding incisor relationship and missing permanent teeth (P < .05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. pndsj@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Jen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandham
authors.forename: Yiong Huak
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric