Prevalence of Malocclusion among Schoolchildren in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Socio-economic and gender dynamics influence on the parental decision-making process for children's orthodontic care - A study in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the socio-economic and personal factors that impact parental decisions regarding orthodontic treatment for their children in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A digital self-administered questionnaire was employed to collect data from 414 parents, focusing on their motivations and barriers that influence their decision-making process regarding orthodontic treatment.

RESULTS

Income level was the most significant factor in orthodontic decisions. Parents with higher incomes were twice as likely to choose orthodontic treatment for esthetic reasons compared to parents with middle incomes. The main incentive for seeking treatment was getting advice from dental professionals, with 60% of participants rating it as the most important factor. 34.5% of respondents identified cost as the main barrier, with middle-income parents being 151% more inclined to perceive it as a significant barrier compared to high-income parents. Gender dynamics revealed that mothers exhibited 48.9% greater concern regarding treatment costs compared to fathers, whereas fathers placed 2.105 times more importance on the orthodontist's reputation than mothers.

CONCLUSION

Income levels, along with other socio-economic factors and gender dynamics, have a significant influence on parental decisions regarding orthodontic care. Personalized consultations that address these variations are crucial for improving communication between patients and practitioners and increasing the accessibility of treatment.

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.

Dissecting the Complexity of Skeletal-Malocclusion-Associated Phenotypes: Mouse for the Rescue

Skeletal deformities and malocclusions being heterogeneous traits, affect populations worldwide, resulting in compromised esthetics and function and reduced quality of life. Skeletal Class III prevalence is the least common of all angle malocclusion classes, with a frequency of 7.2%, while Class II prevalence is approximately 27% on average, varying in different countries and between ethnic groups. Orthodontic malocclusions and skeletal deformities have multiple etiologies, often affected and underlined by environmental, genetic and social aspects. Here, we have conducted a comprehensive search throughout the published data until the time of writing this review for already reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes associated with the development of skeletal deformation-associated phenotypes in different mouse models. Our search has found 72 significant QTL associated with the size of the mandible, the character, shape, centroid size and facial shape in mouse models. We propose that using the collaborative cross (CC), a highly diverse mouse reference genetic population, may offer a novel venue for identifying genetic factors as a cause for skeletal deformations, which may help to better understand Class III malocclusion-associated phenotype development in mice, which can be subsequently translated to humans. We suggest that by performing a genome-wide association study (GWAS), an epigenetics-wide association study (EWAS), RNAseq analysis, integrating GWAS and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), micro and small RNA, and long noncoding RNA analysis in tissues associated with skeletal deformation and Class III malocclusion characterization/phenotypes, including mandibular basic bone, gum, and jaw, in the CC mouse population, we expect to better identify genetic factors and better understand the development of this disease.

Prevalence of Delayed Eruption of Permanent Upper Central Incisors at a Tertiary Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Tooth eruption is defined as the axial movement of the tooth from its site of development in the alveolar bone to its functional position in the oral cavity. A delay in eruption can directly affect the accurate diagnosis, overall treatment planning, and timing of treatment. Thus, Delayed Tooth Eruption can have a significant impact on a patient’s proper health care. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of delayed eruptions of permanent upper central incisors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A retrospective study assessed panoramic radiographs of children between the ages of 6–10 years old who attended the Dental University Hospital clinics at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2014 and 2020. The radiographs were collected and examined to detect any delayed eruption of the permanent upper central incisors. Panoramic radiographs with delayed erupted permanent upper central incisors were identified by tooth developmental stages and eruption sequence. Of the 745 radiographs, 23 (3.09%) presented at least one delayed erupted permanent upper central incisor of which boys and girls comprised 16 (69.5%) and 7 (30.4%), respectively. Retained primary teeth was the most causative factor of delayed eruption (43.4%), followed by the early loss of primary teeth (21.7%) and insufficient arch space. The present study is the first to assess the prevalence of delayed eruption of the permanent upper central incisors on a Saudi population. Boys were found to have more prevalence of delayed eruption of the permanent upper central incisors compared to girls. Clinicians should be aware of such a condition as early diagnosis of delayed eruption is essential for providing optimal dental care.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Reasons for Permanent Tooth Extraction Among High School Students in Saudi Arabia: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Tooth loss is a major dental health concern that has adverse consequences on the remaining dentition and on the patient’s general well-being. This present study aimed to assess predictors and causes of permanent tooth extraction among students.

Methods

This national cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia included a random sample of school students of both genders from grades 10 to 12 (15-18 years of age) and spanned the period of September 2012 to January 2016. Demographic, social, and medical history were recorded. Moreover, a list of possible reasons for tooth extraction was discussed with participants and their parents. The questionnaire was divided into two parts. They first asked for the patient's gender, age, marital status, education level, history of smoking, and the time of the last dental visit. Periodontal and dental examinations were performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine predictors of tooth loss among the sample.

Results

A total of 2,435 school students were included in the study. Notably, 24% of the students had extractions of at least one permanent tooth. Nearly 27% of female students had a permanent tooth extraction compared with only 21.7% of male students, which was statistically significant. Students who visited dentists regularly had significantly more tooth extractions (39%) than students who did not (20.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the significant predictors for permanent tooth extraction were age, regular dental visits, and mean probing depth (PD). Caries (15%) followed by orthodontic treatment (6%) were the main reason for permanent tooth extraction among the sample.

Conclusion

Caries was responsible for most of the tooth loss among the study population. Significant predictors for permanent tooth extraction were age, regular dental visits, and mean probing depth. It follows that there is a need for intensified oral health education and awareness programs in the population with an emphasis on the prevention of dental caries.

Orthodontic treatment need and occlusal traits in the early mixed dentition among 8-9-year old Saudi children

Purpose

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of occlusal traits and to evaluate the orthodontic treatment need among children aged 8-9 years in Al Ahsa, Eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 282 Saudi children who were randomly selected from those visiting dental outpatient clinics at the College of dentistry in King Faisal University, AlAhsa. All the children were evaluated using the DHC and AC components of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Descriptive statistics, chisquare test and Fisher's Exact test were used for data analysis with statistical significance set at p< 0.05.

Results

The most prevalent malocclusal trait was crowding (39.7%) followed by increased overjet (28.4%). About 30.9% and 17% of the children were in definite need for orthodontic treatment according to DHC and AC of IOTN, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the distribution of DHC (p=0.116) and AC (p=0.177) scores between the gender.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated high percentage of malocclusal traits and orthodontic treatment need in the mixed dentition period among 8-9-year-old children in the Eastern region. Emphasis should be placed on early orthodontic screening and treatment in the mixed dentition stage of dental development.

Morphological features of Class I, II and III malocclusions of Saudi adolescents

Aims

This cross-sectional study compared and contrasted the morphological characteristics of Class I, II and III malocclusions in an adolescent Saudi population.

Methods

Adolescent Saudis with Angle’s Class I, II and III malocclusions were selected from orthodontic patients’ records. Angular and linear measurements were compared between the three groups. Cephalometric analysis was performed using the VistadentOC® software. Multifactorial ANOVA for angular and linear measurements between and within groups.

Results

Orthodontic records of 300 patients were included. There was no significant difference between and within groups in age and distribution of Angle’s classification, p > 0.05. Multifactorial ANOVA showed that there were significant interactions between gender and malocclusions in skeletal, dental and soft tissue measurements, p < 0.05. There were significant differences in the sagittal and vertical skeletal measurements between groups, p < 0.05. The dental measurements were also significantly different in most of the measurements (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significantly different readings among the groups in the soft tissue analysis.

Conclusion

Morphological characteristics of adolescent Saudis show unique differences between gender and malocclusions, more so in Class III malocclusions. Class II and III malocclusions also show skeletal differences amongst the groups.