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overbite depth) still explains some of the vari- clusally with resorption occurring along the
ation in overbite depth after the edge centroid lingual surface of the socket wall.
relationship is taken into account, the partial Investigation of the factors associated with
correlation coefficient between overbite depth overbite depth is of relevance not only in deter-
and inter-incisor angle was calculated. This mining aetiology but in defining the tooth move-
coefficient was virtually zero ( — 0.01) and indi- ments that are required to ensure stability
cates that the interincisor angle is not related to following orthodontic treatment. The low or
overbite depth once the edge centroid relation- absent correlations between overbite depth post-
ship has been taken into account. retention and interincisor angulation found by
Ludwig (1967) and by Simons and Joondeph
(1973) respectively, may be attributable to a
number of factors, although their results are not
Discussion reported in sufficient detail to allow further
The values for the interincisor angle in the analysis. It should be noted that these papers
different classes of malocclusion are in general dealt with overbite depth following retention,
agreement with previous reports. It is note- not the change in overbite depth that following
worthy that the correlation between overbite treatment. It was found in this study that in
depth and interincisor angle in the Class II, Class I cases, the relation between overbite and
division 2 group (r = 0.53) is in such close interincisor angulation is low: where the lower
agreement with the value of 0.52 reported by incisor edges occlude on the cingulum plateau
Ludwig (1967) in 100 cases with overbite greater of the upper incisors, variations in overbite are
than 5 mm; and the value of —0.57 of Backlund liable to reflect crown length and overjet rather
(1960). The incisor classification of the cases than the interincisor inclination directly. The
studied by these authors is not clear, although majority of treated cases should have an ideal
both must have included a substantial pro- incisor relationship and few will exhibit a relapse
portion of rather severe Class II cases. In a study in overbite depth. Thus the distribution of over-
of Popovich (1955) the correlation reported bite depth (or its post-treatment change) is likely
between interincisor angle and overbite was to be markedly skewed: this can make the use
remarkably high in the Class II, division 2 cases of parametric correlation coefficients misleading.
(r = 0.73). It is possible that this is due to The only effective way of investigating this
some peculiarity in the sampling, because the problem would be to obtain records of cases
correlation between overbite depth and anterior displaying a range of post-treatment change
facial height are also very high. In the present in overbite depth, from complete stability to
study it was found that the edge centroid re- extensive relapse, and to relate these changes to
lationship explains significantly more of the the interincisor angle and other factors such as
variance in overbite than does the interincisor overjet stability. To obtain a sufficient number
angle. Indeed, once this has been allowed for, of relapsing cases would be difficult. The stronger
the interincisor angle adds nothing to the expla- association found in this study between overbite
nation of overbite depth. The edge-centroid depth and the edge centroid relationship indi-
relationship is most important in overbite depth cates that it might be more closely related to
in Class II, division 2 cases but even here, it overbite stability, although to demonstrate this
explains only about 60 percent of the variance would again require extensive post-treatment
(r = -0.78, r2 = 0.61). Clearly other factors are records. However, on the basis of the present
still of relevance and these must include the results, it does seem to be appropriate to take
slope of the palatal surface of the upper incisor account of this relationship in planning treat-
at the contact with the lower incisor edge, and ment.
possibly anterior face height and the eruptive
potential of the incisor teeth. It is also possible The edge centroid relationship offers a particu-
that the direction of facial growth and thus the larly simple method of evaluating the tooth
direction of eruption of the incisors is important. movements that are required for stable overbite
The tracings published by Bjork and Skieller reduction in Class II cases. Where the lower
(1972) show that the incisors do not necessarily incisor edges already lie in advance of the root
erupt along their long axes but may drift oc- centroid by 1 -3 mm, as in some Class II, division
1 cases, simple tipping of the upper incisors to
OVERBITE DEPTH 143
reduce the overjet should result in an overbite A secure overbite may be difficult to obtain in
that is stable. On the other hand, where the these cases, but for the maximal chances of
lower incisor edge lies behind the upper root stability, the upper root centroid should be at
centroid, reasonable assurance of the stability least 2 mm behind the lower incisor edge.
of overbite reduction depends on a correction
of this relationship. A clinical decision has to be
made whether this should be done by lower Address for correspondence
incisor advancement or by palatal root torque
of the upper incisors. If the lower incisors Professor W. J. B. Houston
are brought forward by favourable mandibular Department of Orthodontics and Children's
growth, then prospects for stability are good Dentistry
but prediction of these favourable changes is United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's
unreliable. Except where they have been pre- and St. Thomas's Hospitals
vented from coming forward to a position of Guy's Tower
muscle balance by a habit or by the occlusion London Bridge SE1 9RT
with the upper arch during favourable facial
growth, the prospects for stability of lower
incisor proclination are poor (Mills, 1968: References
Simons and Joondeph, 1973). Backlund E 1960 Tooth form and overbite. Transactions of
the European Orthodontic Society pp 97-104
Apical torque of upper incisors is technically
Backlund E 1958 Overbite and the incisor angle. Trans-
demanding and is limited by the thickness of the actions of the European Orthodontic Society pp 277-286
alveolar process. Often a combination of these Ballard C F 1948 Some bases for aetiology and diagnosis
changes is required, the exact balance depending in orthodontics. Transactions of the British Society for
on the clinical assessment of the individual case. the Study of Orthodontics pp 27-44
The amount of correction that is required for Berg R 1983 Stability of deep overbite correction. European
overbite stability depends on the circumstances. Journal of Orthodontics 5: 75-83
In adults where the overbite is reduced by Bjork A 1947 The face in profile. Odontologisk Boghandels
intrusion of the incisors, or in the child where Forlag, Copenhagen
growth in lower face height will exceed the Bjork A, and Skieller V 1972 Facial development and tooth
eruption. American Journal of Orthodontics 62: 339-383
amount of overbite reduction required, the inci-
Houston W J B 1982 A comparison of the reliability of
sors contact needs to resist only the eruptive measurement of cephalometric radiographs by tracing
force of the teeth. In these circumstances the and direct digitization. Swedish Dental Journal 15: 99-
overbite may well be stable when the upper 103
incisor root centroid lies only slightly behind the Houston W J B 1979 The application of computer aided
lower incisor edge, although further correction digital analysis of orthodontic records. European Journal
may be desirable. On the other hand, if overbite of Orthodontics I: 71-79
reduction in an adult has been achieved by Ludwig M 1967 A cephalometric analysis of the relationship
between facial pattern, interincisal angulation and anterior
extrusion of the buccal teeth and an increase in overbite changes. Angle Orthodontist 37: 194-204
lower face height, this may reduce slowly over- MillsJ-R E 1968 The stability of the lower labial segment.
a period of years. This will be accompanied by Dental Practitioner 18: 293-305
intrusion of the buccal teeth, but unless the Popovich F 1955 Cephalometric evaluation of vertical over-
incisor contact is really secure, the incisors will bite in young adults. Journal of the Canadian Dental
tend to slide past one another, rather than Association 21: 209-222
intrude. The same considerations apply to the Simons M E, Joondeph D R 1973 Change in overbite:
younger patient where residual facial growth is a ten-year post-retention study. American Journal of
less than the amount of overbite reduction that Orthodontics 64: 349-367
has been obtained by buccal segment extrusion. Solow B 1966 The pattern of craniofacial associations. Acta
Odontologica Scandinavica 24: (Supplement 46)