Eruptive changes in the axial inclination of lower incisor teeth--a longitudinal study.

A longitudinal cephalometric study investigated the change in lower incisor inclination in a group of 32 subjects over a period from 5-10 years of age, with yearly cephalometric radiographs and 6 monthly study models. In a previous study, it was shown that in all of these subjects, the lower incisors became more proclined over this 5 year period. Changes in the rate of proclination of the lower incisors over this period were studied, and this was related to events such as eruption, and contact with the upper incisors or palatal mucosa where this occurred. The association between the inclination of lower incisors before and just after eruption, and their "final" inclination was investigated, and the possible explanations and implications of the findings are discussed.