Prevalence of malocclusion in public school students in the mixed dentition phase and its association with early loss of deciduous teeth

Malocclusion among children in Vietnam: Prevalence and associations with different habits

Background

This study aimed to measure the prevalence of malocclusion and identify associated factors among elementary school students in Vietnam.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to December 2022 at six primary schools located in the province of Thai Binh, Vietnam. A total of 873 students were recruited for research purposes. Students were classified into normal, malocclusion classes I, II and III. Bad habits were examined. Multivariate logistic regression was used to detect associations.

Results

The prevalence of malocclusion was 60.7 %; 19.0 % had Class I, 31.0 % had Class II and 10.7 % had Class III. Having finger sucking habit was associated with Class I malocclusion (OR: 3.28), and Class II malocclusion (OR: 3.22). Having lip biting habit was related to a higher odds of having Class II malocclusion (OR = 4.37) Class III malocclusion (OR = 6.83). Having tongue thrusting habit was associated with higher odds of having Class I (OR: 5.25), and Class II malocclusion (OR: 6.42). Mouth breathing was related to a higher likelihood of having Class II malocclusion (OR = 2.71). Having early loss of deciduous teeth was associated with a higher odds of having Class III malocclusion (OR = 3.83).

Conclusion

Findings showed high prevalence of malocclusion, mostly class II, in elementary students in Vietnam. Bad habits such as finger sucking, biting the lower lip, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, and early loss of deciduous teeth play important roles in developing malocclusion, which should be considered in the development of interventions.

Prevalence and contributing factors of malocclusion in Zhuang children aged 7-8 years in southern China

Introduction

Malocclusion, a common oral health problem in children, is associated with several contributing factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mixed dentition stage malocclusion and its contributing factors in Chinese Zhuang children aged 7-8 years.

Methods

Overall, 2,281 Zhuang children, about 7-8 years old, were randomly selected using a stratified whole-cluster sampling method from schools in counties in Northwestern Guangxi, China. The children were examined on-site for malocclusion and caries by trained dentists, and basic data on the children were collected using questionnaires, including age, sex, parental education, parental accompaniment, and children's knowledge of malocclusion and treatment needs. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The total prevalence of malocclusion in Zhuang children aged 7-8 years was 58.5%, with the highest prevalence of anterior crossbite tendency, and the prevalence of anterior crossbite and anterior edge-to-edge occlusion was 15.1% and 7.7%, respectively. This was followed by an anterior increased overjet of 13.3% and an inter-incisor spacing of 10.3%. The lowest prevalence was 2.7% for anterior open bite. Sex, parental accompaniment, parental education, and decayed, missing, and filled teeth of the first primary molar were factors that contributed to malocclusion in Zhuang children.

Conclusion

Malocclusion is a common oral problem among Zhuang children. Therefore, more attention must be paid to the intervention and prevention of malocclusion. The impact factors should be controlled as early as possible.