Re-examining occlusal changes in the development of the Australian Aboriginal dentition-what have we learned as orthodontists

概要

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As suggested from our previous studies, the mode of occlusion in some individuals can change over time, during the development of the dentition, i.e. malocclusion to normal occlusion and normal occlusion to malocclusion. This led us to ask some questions regarding orthodontic treatment planning, especially the timing and necessity of treatment. To resolve these questions, we carefully re-examined serial plaster models obtained from the same Australian Aborigines at the ages of 8, 12, 15 and 18 years. In contrast to our expectations, the incidence of altered occlusal types (normal occlusion to malocclusion, malocclusion to normal occlusion) was found to be high. We also discovered that the altered types could be distinguished from the unaltered types. These results suggest that long-term observation is imperative, and it is important that the optimal timing of treatment is not missed when required. In cases where orthodontic treatment is unnecessary, i.e. change from malocclusion to normal occlusion, timing, including non-treatment (only observation) of orthodontic treatment must be successfully planned. Appropriate orthodontic treatment based on the findings of this study may shorten the treatment period and free patients from uncomfortable oral conditions associated with orthodontic appliances.
日本矯正歯科学会の論文