[Qualitative and quantitative assessment of occlusion in a selected group of children]

The occlusion of 102 children from the Province of Krosno was assessed by means of the diagnostic principles of Orlik-Grzybowska and a scoring system of Masztalerz. The complex of morphological-functional features proper for age was found in 30.39% of children, while malocclusion was diagnosed in 69.61% of them. On the other hand, in the point score evaluation normal occlusion was found in only one child. This indicates a lower sensitivity of the qualitative assessment of occlusion. In the studied group of children posterior malocclusions were most frequent--27.45%, and crowding was second in frequency--26.47%. The occurrence of malocclusion was increasing, from 57.5% in 1966 to 69.61% in the present study which points to a need for extending the orthodontic health care in prevention and treatment even in regions with good climatic conditions.