Prevalence of malocclusion and its relationship with caries among school children aged 11 - 15 years in southern India

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of malocclusion and its relationship with dental caries among school children in southern India.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 1,800 students aged 11 - 15 years whose Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and dentition status were recorded and analyzed. The chi-square test, ANOVA, and Spearman's correlation tests were carried out.ResultsThe mean DAI score ± the standard deviation was 18.61 ± 6.1. Approximately 85% of the students (83.0% males, 86.8% females) had DAI scores of < 26 and were classified as not requiring orthodontic treatment. One tenth of the sample had mean DAI scores between 26 - 30 (indicating definite malocclusion and elective treatment), while about 3% had mean scores between 31 - 35 (indicating severe malocclusion and treatment desirability). Only 29 children (1.6%; 16 boys, 13 girls) had a DAI score of > 35, which suggested very severe or handicapping malocclusion requiring mandatory treatment. The mean decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) was 2.28 ± 1.47. A DMFT of > 0 was observed in 91.8% of the study subjects. Children with a DAI score of > 35 were found to have significantly (p < 0.001) higher caries experience as compared to other children. Moreover, the DAI scores showed a significant correlation with the mean DMFT scores (r = 0.368, p < 0.05).ConclusionsA positive correlation was found between the severity of malocclusion and dental caries.

The prevalence of malocclusion and its association with dental caries among 12-18-year-old disabled adolescents

“…The mean DMFT score was 4.36 ± 3.81, and 50.6% of the participants had DAI scores ≥ 36. Previous studies have reported a significant association between DAI scores of ≥36 and high caries among healthy children [14, 37]. However, no significant association was found between DAI scores and the prevalence of caries among our sample of disabled children.…”

“…The results of our study are not in accordance with a Nigerian study [12] that reported a 47% prevalence of malocclusion among disabled children in the age group of 12–18 years. Furthermore, the prevalence of malocclusion among disabled children was much higher than those reported in a recent south Indian study among 1800 normal school children aged 11 – 15 years using DAI [14]. …”

“…The esthetic and anatomic components of malocclusion are included in both the DAI and the IOTN [39], but the IOTN is reported to be more precise [37]. DAI was preferred in our study because previous studies conducted among healthy children [14, 15] and among disabled children [11, 36] have used this index to report the prevalence of malocclusion in India. Visible proximal caries, loss of inter-proximal translucency and ‘catch’ during inter-proximal probing were included as the clinical criteria to diagnose proximal caries, but bitewing radiographs were not taken to determine proximal caries in our study.…”

“…The prevalence of malocclusion is reported to be higher among physically and/or mentally disabled children compared to healthy children [10]. Although studies have investigated the prevalence of malocclusion among disabled individuals [11–13] and the association of malocclusion and caries among healthy children [14, 15], the association of malocclusion and caries among children with special health care needs (CSHCN) has not been reported to date.…”

Individual and contextual determinants of malocclusion in 12-year-old schoolchildren in a Brazilian city

“…1 Malocclusions may cause decreased masticatory performance and are associated with periodontal disease and dental caries. 2,3,4 Several occlusal traits depend on a combination of variations in tooth position and skeletal development, which are environmentally influenced and genetically determined. 5 Since facial appearance and dental aesthetics are important for adolescents' self-esteem, untreated malocclusion has physical, psychological, and social consequences for their quality of life, and are associated with dissatisfaction with dental and gingival appearance.…”