BIRTH CHARACTERISTICS AND MALOCCLUSION
Keyword(s):
New York
◽
Possible associations between selected natality variables and malocclusion were investigated, using birth certificates and clinical examination records of 1,413 high school children in New York state. A significant association was demonstrated between season of birth and the subsequent presence of malocclusion; an excess of children with occlusal disorders were born in the second quarter of the year (April-June). This observation, together with the relatively high prevalence of malocclusion in the population, suggests that adverse environmental factors during the pre- and perinatal period may occur more frequently than was previously believed and may be important in the development of occlusal disorders.