Occlusal contacts following orthodontic treatment: a follow-up study.

Occlusal contacts in maximum intercuspation were examined in a sample of 40 patients at the end of active orthodontic treatment and again an average of 21 months later. An increase in the total number of contacts was due to more actual and near contacts on all posterior teeth and more near contacts on anterior teeth. When the results were compared to a previous short term study, continued settling of the occlusion occurred beyond an initial three months of retention. Few contacts changed their location between the occlusal inclined planes and central grooves, suggesting minimal settling of the occlusion in a buccolingual direction.