Quantitative assessment of the occlusal features

There is no widely accepted quantitative method for assessing occlusion. The wide variation in epidemiological studies is due to the use of quantitative terms, which are subjective and allow a broad range of interpretation. A new, simple reproducible and valid quantitative method of assessing occlusion which is suitable for epidemiological and clinical use is described. Four instruments are used for direct measurement of occlusal traits. An overbite gauge has been devised and three other measuring instruments have been modified to measure overjet and crowding of the teeth. Each dental arch is divided into three segments, an incisal segment and two buccal segments. Each segment is assessed in terms of intra-arch alignment and inter-arch relationship (in occlusion). The method has been field tested and proved to be practical and valid.