DEVELOPMENT OF OCCLUSION

There are several reasons why pediatric dentist should understand the development of dental occlusion. One of the major objectives of orthodontic treatment is to correct occlusal problems. Much of the need for this treatment could be avoided if children received the proper dental care at earlier ages. Development of occlusion is a genetically and environmentally conditioned process, which shows a great deal of individual variations, and consequently, for the development of an acceptable occlusion, quite a remarkable co-ordination of different events is necessary. The development of occlusion depends on a number of conditions, like muscular pressure, habits, availability of space, etc. This development is coincident with the growth of all tissues associated with the dental apparatus, including the nose, maxillary sinuses, facial bones and muscles. Failure in one part of the development process may lead to anomalies, or else may be compensated for by other developmental processes. Thus Proper care of the developing deciduous and permanent teeth, both at the dental office and at home, is important for the appropriate development of occlusion. and timely diagnosis followed by appropriate interception can prevent any developing malocclusion. This article is an overview which depicts (1) periods of development of occlusion, (2) outline the development of normal occlusion in the pediatric patient and (3) explain what occlusion of the teeth is and why it is important.