A diagnostic method for deep bite in children and adolescents with varying severity of connective tissue disorders

Relevance. Currently, congenital connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are recognized as a complex interdisciplinary clinical problem, presenting with a broad spectrum of systemic and regional phenotypic manifestations. These disorders are frequently associated with malocclusion, as well as various dental and occlusal anomalies related to tooth shape, position, and jaw development. However, data remain limited regarding early diagnosis, as well as the optimization of comprehensive treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation strategies for dentoalveolar anomalies in children and adolescents, especially when considering the severity of congenital connective tissue differentiation abnormalities. Materials and methods. The study included 717 schoolchildren aged 12 to 18 years, all diagnosed with CTDs, comprising 415 girls and 302 boys. Clinical dental examinations identified deep bite in 173 participants using a diagnostic method developed by the authors. The severity of each participant's CTD was determined based on the classification criteria established by T. Milkovska-Dmitrova and A. Karkashev (1985). Biometric measurements were performed on plaster dental models of children with deep bite using the proposed diagnostic technique. Results. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in biometric deep bite parameters between groups with different degrees of congenital connective tissue differentiation abnormalities. The data demonstrated a clear trend: the more severe the CTD, the more pronounced the deep bite parameters. These findings underscore the importance of early, comprehensive primary and secondary prevention, alongside individualized medical and social rehabilitation strategies for children with CTDs. Conclusion. The proposed biometric diagnostic method allows for the identification of deep bite while taking into account the severity of congenital connective tissue differentiation abnormalities. This approach supports the timely detection of vertical malocclusions and facilitates appropriate therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative measures for school-aged children with varying degrees of CTDs.