Epidemiological study of laterognathia, mandibular deviation and posterior crossbite in children aged 7-17 years from Plovdiv.

AIM To conduct an epidemiological study and find the prevalence of some transverse anomalies of occlusion in children aged 7-17 years from the region of Plovdiv; to determine the most appropriate time for early orthodontic treatment based on the results of the study. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 883 children from Plovdiv (7-17 years old). The children were studied by means of extraoral examination, a clinical examination of dental arches and occlusion and by doing a clinical test to assess mandibular displacement. RESULTS The prevalences of mandibular deviation, laterognathia and posterior crossbite (unilateral or bilateral of single teeth or a group of teeth) were 30.4%, 1.02%, 10.53%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our results are consistent with the results reported by other authors which indicate that these malocclusions cannot self-regulate and for this reason they should be subject to strict prevention and early treatment.