A factor analysis of traits as measured by COCSTOC-MOT to identify occlusal trait combinations.

Occlusal conditions which vary significantly from accepted social norms for dental appearance may socially handicap an individual. An instrument is required by which socially unacceptable occlusal conditions can be identified by members of the public who have internalized society's norms for acceptable dental appearance. The factors identified in this paper make it possible to select a reasonable number (100) of models for constructing a measurement instrument which depicts the full range of occlusal patterns found in a natural population for use in assessing the social acceptability of occlusal conditions.