Change in dentition over 20 years from third decade of life

PurposePrevious studies have documented long-term, age-related change in the teeth, dental arches and occlusion. However, very few studies have investigated longitudinal age-related change in the dentition using 3-dimensional (3-D) measurement. The purpose of this study was to clarify age-related change in the dentition using a laser scanner.Materials and methodsWe used dental casts obtained from the same subjects in their twenties and forties. Subjects were selected based on near-normal occlusion. We investigated age-related variation in the dentition using 3-D measurement.ResultsAge-related change in the dentition was characterized by a decrease in maxillary and mandibular width, an increase in maxillary length, and a decrease in mandibular length. Measurement of angulation revealed that the maxillary canines and molars were mesially inclined. We observed labial inclination of the maxillary incisors, and lingual inclination of the mandibular incisors, as well as the maxillary and mandibular canines and molars. Overjet, overbite, and the irregularity index all showed an increase, while occlusal vertical dimension showed a decrease. Multiple regression analysis indicated that lingual inclination of the lower central incisors was related to an increase in the irregularity index, and that lingual inclination of the upper canines and decrease in occlusal vertical dimension of the anterior teeth were related to increased overbite.ConclusionThe present findings showed that age-related changes in angulation and inclination of each tooth should be taken into account when providing occlusal rehabilitation or post-orthodontic retention.