Prevalence of malocclusion in Italian schoolchildren and orthodontic treatment need

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ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment in a sample
of 3,017 Italian schoolchildren.

Methods

Study design: 1,375 males and 1,642 females, aged between 8 and 13
years, were visited in primary and secondary schools. Signs of malocclusion were registered according to an occlusal index by trained
and calibrated operators. First the prevalence of malocclusion was calculated in accordance to a scale of need for orthodontic treatment
(R.O.M.A. index), which considers both malocclusion signs and risk factors for worsening of malocclusion without any treatment and
during craniofacial development. Then the distribution of the most frequent characteristics, signs and symptoms was evaluated both
within each risk grade and in the basic sample.

Results

The overall percentage of children classified as 3, 4 and 5 grade accounted
for 75.8 of the sample. The percentage of children classified as 4 and 5 grade are similar to those found in other European
countries. The most frequent features found are poor oral hygiene, caries and early loss of deciduous teeth, deviation from full
intercuspation, increased overbite and overjet.

Conclusion

This epidemiological research describes the current orthodontic
treatment need in Italy in children with a late mixed dentition.

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