Characteristics of primary dentition occlusion in a group of Saudi children.

Occlusal characteristics of the primary dentition vary among populations and ethnic groups. This cross-sectional study aimed to record various primary dentition parameters in 520 3-5-year-old randomly selected Saudi children and to observe the differences between the age groups. 80% of the children had a 'flush terminal plane' molar relationship. The proportion of the children with 'distal step' molar relationship was significantly lower at age 5 (7%) than at age 3 (16%). 86% of the children had Class I canine relationship, with no significant differences between the age groups. The degree of overbite was significantly less in the 5-year-olds than in the 3-year-olds. The majority of the children (76%) had an overjet of 0-2 mm, but the prevalence of 0-1 mm overjet was significantly higher, and that of 2-3 mm significantly lower, in the elder age group. The prevalence of anterior crossbite was 2% and of posterior crossbite 4%. The prevalence of malocclusion was lower in these subjects than in some Caucasian populations.