Occlusal Characteristics of the Primary Dentition Revisited.

The occlusal characteristics of the primary dentition of 130 children 3 to 6 years old were examined. Variables were the terminal plane relationship, primary canine occlusion, spacing, overjet and overbite relationships. The flush terminal plane was the most common finding. A Class I relationship of the primary canine occurred in 85% of the subjects. Spaced dentitions occurred 81% of the time, while the presence of primate spaces occurred in at least one of the four quadrants. The overjet relationship varied from +1 mm to 4 mm in all subjects, and the majority of children were considered to have a normal overbite.