Revised criteria for the assessment and interpretation of occlusal deviations in the deciduous dentition: a public health perspective.
Secondary data from a randomized sample of Brazilian preschool children were analyzed to evaluate the prevalence of occlusal deviations in the deciduous dentition that can adversely affect the permanent dentition, using revised criteria. Overjet and overbite used cut-off points described in the literature to exclude mild malocclusion cases. Overjet>3 mm and overbite>3 mm were present in 16% and 7% of the children, respectively. On the sagittal plane, only bilateral deviations were considered: molar relationship in distal step (9.7%) and mesial step (6%) and canine relationship class 2 (11%) and class 3 (2.9%). Regarding other occlusal deviations, severity criteria were not reported in the literature. Crude prevalence rates of openbite (27.9%), posterior crossbite (11.3%), and crowding in the maxillary arch (7%) and mandibular arch (11.3%) were recorded. The assessment of malocclusion in the deciduous dentition should focus on the severity of occlusal deviations for the identification of cases and non-cases that are relevant to public health. Need for further consensus and improvement in the interpretation of epidemiological data on malocclusion related to this developmental stage is emphasized.
Almeida
Eliete Rodrigues de
ER
Departamento de Prática de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. eralmeida@usp.br
Narvai
Paulo Capel
PC
Frazão
Paulo
P
Guedes-Pinto
Antonio Carlos
AC
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous