PREVALÊNCIA DAS MALOCLUSÕES EM ESCOLARES DE 12 ANOS DE IDADE DA REDE MUNICIPAL DE ENSINO DE CAMPINA GRANDE/PB E SUA ASSOCIAÇÃO COM CÁRIE DENTÁRIA

Abstract

Assessment of malocclusion is important for documentation of the prevalence and severity of malocclusion in population groups. The purpose of this study was to determinate the prevalence of malocclusion and dental caries in schoolchildren aged 12 years both genders from public schools in Campina Grande/PB and investigate whether a relationship exists between prevalence of dental caries and malocclusions. Socio-economic factors, preventive actions in oral health and the relationship between severity of malocclusion and perceptions of aesthetics and function of the teeth also were assessed. The sample representative of the population of adolescents in Campina Grande/PB was of 553 schoolchildren (281 boys and 271 girls) randomly selected, none of them had received previous orthodontic treatment. One examiner assessed the students using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and Angle classification for malocclusions, and DMF-T for dental caries according to World Health Organization (WHO). For statistical analyses Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used. Malocclusion prevalence and normative orthodontic treatment need, using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), were presented in 65,3% of the schoolchildren . Definite malocclusion was diagnosis in 30.4%, severe malocclusion in 21.2% and very severe malocclusion or handicapping in 13.7% of the schoolchildren. Applying Angle classification, most of the children (68.5%) presented a normal molar relation (Class I). The prevalence of dental caries was 70.5% and the mean DMF-T was 2.09. The mean maternal education level was four years and six months. The most of schoolchildren families (61.8%) had family income equal or lower than one minimum wage. The tooth brushing, with mean de two or more times a day, was found in 81.9% of the schoolchildren. No positive association between prevalence of dental caries and malocclusion could be established as well as between chewing and severity of malocclusion (p>0.05). However, statistically significant association were found between indicators dissatisfaction when smiling related to occlusal problems (p<0.05) and Angle classification (p=0.01) with a severity of malocclusion. The results suggests that new studies concerning the prevalence of malocclusions, using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) as well as of the general determinants of the dental caries with different aspects of the individuals life should be developed in order to contribute to implant wide measures of promotion of oral health.