AAOF Oregon Growth Study Overview

The Oregon Growth Study

Curator: David A. Covell Jr. PhD, DDS

Institution: Department of Orthodontics - School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University

Mixed longitudinal records were collected in the Child Study Clinic from the early 1950’s through the middle 1970’s. The records were collected from untreated Caucasian individuals, either semiannually or annually, and include photographs, study casts, lateral (closed and wide-open), P-A, hand-wrist and intraoral films, as well as various written records including growth charts, diet records, and health-histories. The collection includes 357 subjects from 3 to 18 years age with 20 twin pairs. Of these subjects, 206 encompass individuals that were inclusive of ages 10-16 (female) and 10-18 (male). With regard to sex and Angle’s classification, the available database indicates there are 81 girls, Class I, 95 boys, Class I, 14 girls, Class II, 14 boys, Class II, and 2 Class III boys. There are also 20 pairs of twins.

The collection is presently housed in a basement storage area in the OHSU School of Dentistry and occupies approximately 250 square feet. All records except the models are kept in numbered binders that are sequentially arranged and stored upright on shelving. Models are kept in model boxes stacked on shelving across an aisle from the binders and the boxes are numbered to correspond to the binders. Although at risk from water damage from overhead pipes and through the ceiling from the main clinic on the floor above the collection, and from dust that accumulates in the storage area, the collection to date is in very good condition. The records have been lightly used and, when used, high standards have remained in place for handling the materials, such as use of clean cotton gloves when handling radiographs. Thus the number of subjects and the high-quality and preservation of the longitudinal records are the primary strengths of this collection.