The relationship of anterior overjet to plaque and gingivitis in children.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the relationship of overjet to periodontal status. Detailed examinations of occlusal and periodontal characteristics were completed on 914 12-year-old children. Plaque indices, bleeding indices, and anterior overjet were recorded for each incisor tooth. There was a significant association between mean plaque scores and the extremes of overjet measurement, suggesting that tooth cleaning is more difficult in these cases. Also, it was apparent that for right-handed children, the plaque and gingivitis scores were lower on the left side of the mouth.