Prevalence and impact of malocclusion among school children aged 12 and 15 years in Gampaha District and their knowledge on malocclusion.

Abstract

Prevalence of malocclusion was obtained by using Dental Aesthetic Index. Information on knowledge and perceived impact of malocclusion was obtained using a self administered questionnaire. In addition orthodontic material expenditure was calculated in a sub sample of treated children in the university setting.The prevalence study comprised of 526 twelve year old children :mrf 540 fifteel) year old children. Most of the children, (72 percent) of the 12- year-olds and (70 percent) of the 15-year-olds had no malocclusion or minor malocclusion which do not reguire orthodontic treatment. There were 16 percent (0.16,CI= 0, 191-0. 129 ) of 12 year old children and 14 percent ( 0.14, CI =0 .169-0.111) of 15 year old children had definite malocelusion where treatment considered as elective and there were 4 percent ( 0.04, SI= 0.054=0.023) of 12 year old children and 7 percent ( 0.07 CI =0.083-0.061) of 15 year old children had severe malocelusion where treatment considered as highlydesirable . Only 7.8 percent ( 0.078, CI =0.745-0.695) of 12 year olds and 8.7 percent (0.087, CI=0.114, 0.066) of 15 year olds had handicapping malcelusion that needed mandatory treatment. Impact of malocelusion was significantly associated with the location of the school , fathers employment status and DAI ( P<0..05) serverity among 12 year old children . Among the 15 year olds impact of malocelusion was significantly associated with sex and DAI severity (P,0.05). DAI severity level among 12 year old children was significantly associated to satisfaction wih the own arranggggggggement of teeth, getting comments by others, getting teased and avoid smiling impact of malocclusion was found to be significantly associated to satisfaction with the own arrangement of teeth , getting comments by others, getting teased and avoid smiling . Impact of malocclusion was found to be significantly associated with malocclusion among 15 year old children was significantly associated to crowding in the incisal segment, maxillary irregularity , manibular irregularity, maxillary over ject, and malocclusion among 12 and 15 year old children in a selected District. It further provides data on the level of knowledge on malocclusion and percrived impact of malocclusion . The finding will be useful to assess service need of malcocclusion and perceived impact of malocclusion. The finding will be useful to assess service need of malocclusion among children of 12 years and 15 years of age, and to plan the future service programme.