Tooth Wear Patterns in Adolescents with Normal Occlusion or Class II Division 2 Malocclusion

  • Dr Guilherme Janson, Bauru Dental School - University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dr Paula Oltramari-Navarro, Bauru Dental School – University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dr Renata Oliveira, Bauru Dental School – University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dr Camila Quaglio, Bauru Dental School – University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dr José Fernando Henriques, Bauru Dental School – University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dr Sílvia Sales-Peres, Bauru Dental School – University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dr James McNamara Jr, University of Michigan - School of Dentistry, United States

Objective: This study aimed at investigating tooth wear patterns in adolescents with normal occlusion and with Class II division 2 malocclusion.
Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of dental casts obtained from 165 subjects, which were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, 115 normal occlusion subjects (mean age of 14.25 years); and Group 2, 50 complete Class II division 2 subjects (mean age of 13.85 years). Dental wear was assessed using a modified version of the Tooth Wear Index (TWI). The two groups were compared by means of the Mann-Whitney test, considering the frequency and the severity of wear in each surface, of each group of teeth (p<0.05).
Results: The normal occlusion group statistically had greater tooth wear on the incisal surfaces of the maxillary lateral incisors and on the incisal surfaces of the maxillary canines than did the Class II division 2 malocclusion group. The Class II division 2 malocclusion group showed statistically greater tooth wear on the labial surfaces of the mandibular lateral incisors, on the occlusal surfaces of maxillary premolars and first molars, on the occlusal surfaces of mandibular premolar teeth, on the palatal surfaces of maxillary second premolars and on the buccal surfaces of mandibular premolars and first molars than the normal occlusion group.
Conclusion: Subjects with normal occlusion and subjects with complete Class II division 2 malocclusions presented different tooth wear patterns. Tooth wear on the malocclusion subjects should not be considered pathological but rather a consequence of different interocclusal arrangement.