Prevalence of malocclusions in a sample of 4-5-year-old Bulgarian children

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of malocclusions in a sample of 4-5-year-old children. Methodology: 471 boys and girls participated in this observational cross-sectional epidemiological study. The presence of spacing, no spacing and crowding, anteroposterior, transverse and vertical occlusion relationships was assessed and analyzed. Results: Normal occlusal relationships were found in 35.6% of all children. Generalized spacing was found in 78.2% of the subjects, followed by no spacing in 16.1% and crowding in 5.7%, respectively. Class I canine relationship was found in 64.1% of the children, followed by Class II in 29.1% and Class III in 9.6%. A flush terminal molar relationship was found in approximately 70% of the children, followed by mesial and distal molar relationships equally distributed. An increased and decreased overjet was observed in 9.5% and in 4.9% of the children. An anterior cross-bite was documented in 6.4% of all the examined children. An unilateral posterior cross-bite and a bilateral posterior cross-bite were observed in 3.2% and in 1.5% of the sample. A posterior edge-to-edge bite was found in 1.9%. A normal overbite was found in 30.1% of all children; a deep bite with and without gingival contact was registered in 27% and in 8.5% respectively; an anterior open bite was seen in 7.2% of the children and a posterior open bite in 1.3%. The percentage of mandible lateral deviation cases is 2.5%. Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of malocclusions with 64.4%, early attention may be given to orthodontic prevention measures