MALOCCLUSION PREVALENCE IN AN ETHNIC CHINESE POPULATION

Population norms derived from one ethnic group may not necessarily be valid and accurate for other ethnic groups. With the increasing number of ethnic Chinese immigrants in Australia, Europe, and America, it wo uld be useful for dental practitioners to be informed about malocclusi on prevalence among Chinese. This study was carried out on 1050 Chines e school children (aged 12-14 years) to assess both qualitatively and quantitatively certain occlusal features. The population was found to have a high incidence of Class III malocclusions compared with caucasi ans. However, the incidence of Class II malocclusions was quite simila r to those reported in caucasians. Normal occlusions occurred in about 7 per cent of this population. Although this percentage was much lowe r than those reported in blacks, it was similar to those reported in c aucasians. Crowding occurred in about 50 per cent of cases, which was slightly less than for those reported for caucasians. Increased overbi tes were also less common in this Chinese population compared with cau casians. Compared with caucasians, crossbites were also less frequent in this Chinese population.