Malocclusion at adolescence related to self-reported tooth loss and functional disorders in adulthood

It has been argued that malocclusion may predispose to tooth loss and functional disorders of the masticatory system. It was the purpose of this study to examine relationships between untreated malocclusion, recorded at adolescence, and self-reported tooth loss and functional disorders in adulthood. In 1965-66, the occurrence of morphologic traits of malocclusion was recorded in 977 Danish adolescents who did not have access to organized orthodontic care. Fifteen years later, 841 (86%) of these subjects responded to a questionnaire screening for tooth loss, symptoms involving the temporomandibular joints and muscles, and some other symptoms of dysfunction. The occurrence of malocclusion was related to the symptoms of the temporomandibular joints and muscles and other functional symptoms. Only a few significant coefficients of correlation were observed. Extreme maxillary overjet (greater than 9 mm) and frontal open bite showed significant correlations with unsatisfactory biting ability. Crossbite was correlated positively with speech defects but negatively with tenderness or fatigue of the cheeks; unilateral crossbite was associated with locking of the mandible. It was concluded that the untreated morphologic traits of malocclusion did not seem to predispose to tooth loss or functional disorders of the masticatory system as reported at the age of 30 years.