A 57-year follow-up study of occlusion. Part 2: oral health and attitudes to teeth among individuals with deep overbite at the age of 8 years.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze changes in occlusion between the ages of 8 and 65 years in persons with a deep overbite at the age of 8 who did not receive orthodontic treatment. To describe their experiences regarding their own dentition as well as their opinions on dental esthetics and oral health. To compare these findings with those of the Normal Occlusion (N-Group) described in Part 1.


METHODS
With one exception, the 20 persons in our cohort had not undergone orthodontic therapy. Our documentation was based on intraoral photographs taken at the two time points in addition to an interview and facial photos at the age of 65.


RESULTS
The overbite could be evaluated in 16 persons. In four persons various degrees of mucosal indentations in connection with the overbite had been registered. The average number of missing teeth was 3.4, compared to 1.6 in the N-group. All participants reported their oral health to be good or excellent and, similar to the N-group, nearly all considered dental esthetics to be important.


CONCLUSIONS
The overbite had decreased during the observation period in nine, increased in five, and remained stable in two persons.
Berg
Rolf Elling
RE
Department of Orthodontics, University of Oslo, Norway. rolfell@start.no
Stenvik
Arild
A
Espeland
Lisen
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024343:Open Bite / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009909:Oral Health; D012649:Self Concept