ASSESSMENT OF THE OCCLUSAL CHARACTERISTICS IN PRIMARY DENTITION. RESULTS FROM A ROMANIAN MEDICAL CENTER

Aim of the study The objective was to assess the occlusal characteristics of primary dentition and difference in various parameters in children between 3 and 6 years of age. Material and method A total of 172 children between 3 and 6 years of age with complete primary dentition were examined. The study group was assessed for several occlusal parameters: primary molar and canine relations, degree of overjet and overbite, anterior and posterior crossbite, presence or absence of physiologic spaces and crowding. Results Percentage distribution of terminal molar relationship showed flush terminal in mesial step was 25 % at 3 years old, 44.5% at 5 years old, and 63.6% at 6 years old. Primary canine relations were Angle class I in 72% of the cases. As age increases we noticed a decrease in overjet percentages: 25% of the 3 year old had overjet above 4mm, 19% of the 4 year old and only 9% of the 5 year old. Underbite and crossbite were noticed mainly in boys. Lack of physiological spacing was predominant in girls with 21%, while in boys was only 12%. Also crowding percentage was higher in girls, 19% of the cases. Conclusions We noticed that occlusal problems are higher as age increases. Low incidence of open bite and cross bite suggest the lack of vicious habits, like thumb sucking, in examined childre