The Prevalence of Major Types of Occlusal Anomalies among Saudi Middle School Students

ABSTRACT Introduction Malocclusion is the most common dental anomaly among children and adolescents. Accordingly, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of major types of occlusal anomalies in permanent dentition among Saudi Arabian middle school adolescent students seeking orthodontic treatment in Jeddah. Materials and methods The sample comprised 150 males and 150 females with mean age of 14.25 (±1.09) for both males and females. Data were registered using the Bjork method. Results The results of the study showed that postnormal occlusion, prenormal occlusion, and bimaxillary protrusion represented 22, 14.7, and 8.3% of the studied sample respectively. Moderate and severe overjet accounted for 24.7 and 5.7% and for overbite 28 and 13% respectively. Midline deviation was detected in 25.3% of the sample. Mild, moderate, and severe maxillary and mandibular crowding represented 10, 27.3, and 10% and 13, 40, and 9.7% respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of occlusal anomalies was 90% and some occlusal anomalies were higher in females. Clinical significance The prevalence of occlusal anomalies in Saudi Arabian middle school students necessitates the demand for obtaining baseline data for planning orthodontic services. How to cite this article Baeshen H. The Prevalence of Major Types of Occlusal Anomalies among Saudi Middle School Students. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(2):142-146.

A Descriptive Study of Vocal Maturation Among Male Adolescent Vocalists and Instrumentalists

This descriptive study was designed to examine middle school adolescent boys’ singing voices ( N = 104) comprising volunteers enrolled in band ( n = 72) or choir ( n = 32). The authors sought to confirm possible earlier voice change, to compare vocal characteristics among frequent (choir) and infrequent (band) singers, and to determine use of falsetto during each voice stage. To assess falsetto, the authors had participants view and then imitate a segment of Shrek, in which characters speak in falsetto and bass. Students then spoke a line at high, medium, and low pitches. They then self-selected their highest and lowest singing pitches, sustaining them as long as possible. Following Cooksey procedures, the authors identified the boys’ speaking pitch and guided them to their highest and lowest pitches. Data consisted of demographic information; changing voice stages; high, medium, and low speaking contrasts; highest and lowest sung pitches (both self-selected and instructor-guided); number of seconds pitches were held; presence/absence of falsetto singing; and Likert-type responses to “Like singing?” and “Sing well?” Results confirmed that boys’ voices continue to change at an early age and can be divided reliably into predictable developmental stages and that speaking voices were 3 to 4 semitones above lowest sung pitches. Predictable identification of falsetto appeared elusive.