Distribution of occlusal traits in a sample of 1337 children aged 15--18 residing in upstate New York.

Preliminary findings on the distribution of occlusal traits (COCSTOC-MOT) have been presented as measured on 1337 orthodontic models. These models were made from a sample representing more than 400 000 children ages 15 to 18 in Upstate New York (all of New York State with the exception of New York City). Some of the findings for occlusal traits in this survey are comparable to those from a representative sample of younger children representing the US population ages 6--11 years. For comparable traits differences between the findings in New York State and for the United States were: Openbite--1 per cent higher in the US sample. Overjet 6 mm or more--5.7 per cent higher in the US sample. Neutro-occlusion--7 per cent more in the US sample. Disto-occlusion--8 per cent more in the US sample. Mesio-occlusion--8 per cent more in the US sample. Differences in findings between these surveys are assumed to be largely due to the fact that the current survey measured occlusal traits in the permanent dentition; whereas, the US survey measured those traits in the mixed dentition. Some of the traits found in the mixed dentition are believed to be self-correcting. Statistically determined means and medians for some of the occlusal traits of COCSTOC indicate that there is considerable variation from ideal occlusion found in a large population.