Occlusal changes from adolescence to adulthood in untreated patients with Class II Division 1 deepbite malocclusion

A sample of 47 untreated children (M 32:F 15) with Class II Division 1 (II/ 1) deep-overbite malocclusion was collected from a group of patients who de clined orthodontic therapy. Longitudinal records consisted of plaster denta l casts and lateral cephalograms at original diagnosis and plaster dental c asts at a follow-up observation in adulthood, an average of 11.5 years late r. To study retrospectively natural changes in dental occlusion during this interval, plaster-cast millimetric measurements were recorded of sagittal dental relationships (first molar and canine), overjet, overbite, and crowd ing/spacing at the two registrations. Results showed statistically signific ant improvements in untreated II/1 deepbite malocclusion from adolescence t o adulthood fur all measured occlusal variables except development of mild crowding. Therefore, assumptions that untreated II/1 distoclusion will wors en with age appear to be unfounded. The evidence indicates that the absence of orthodontic correction for adolescent patients with Class II Division 1 deepbite malocclusion will not usually lead to measurable occlusal deterio ration in young adulthood.