Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 3s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Srividhya.
Srividhya@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Well-aligned dentition not only helps in the maintenance of oral health but also influences the person’s confidence and personality. Malocclusion conciliates oral health and also might predispose to the spectrum of psychological and social problems. Hence; the present study was conducted with the aim of assessing the prevalence of different types of malocclusion among school-going children. Materials & Methods: A total of 500 school-going children between the age group of 10 years to 17 years were included in the present study. Subjects were instructed to sit on the dental chair. Sterilized mouth mirror, probe and tweezers were used for carrying out the intra-oral examination. All the intra-oral findings were recorded. Permanent molars were evaluated, and the prevalence of the different type of malocclusion (Angle’s classification of malocclusion) was evaluated. All the results were summarized and compiled in Microsoft excel sheet and were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software.  Results: Majority of the children (39 per cent) had class I type of malocclusion, while 25.6 per cent of the children had Class 2 Div 2 type of malocclusion. Class 3 type of malocclusion was found to be present in 13 percent of the school-going children.  While assessing the distribution of different types of malocclusion among subjects divided on the basis of gender, non-significant results were obtained. While assessing the distribution of different types of malocclusion among subjects divided on the basis of age group, non-significant results were obtained.  Conclusion: Angle’s Class 1 malocclusion is the most common type of malocclusion affecting school-going children. Hence; early recognition of malocclusion is necessary so that treatment therapy could be started at an early age.

Keywords: Malocclusion, Prevalence, Pedodontics.