Assessment of the orthodontic knowledge demonstrated by dental school undergraduates: recognizing the key features of Angle Class II, Division 1 malocclusion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of undergraduate students in diagnosing Angle Class II malocclusion and evaluate the clinical approach of these students toward a patient displaying this condition. METHODS: The sample consisted of 138 students attending the last semester of 10 dental schools in the State of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil assessed by questionnaires with closed questions. They were presented with photographs and dental casts of a patient in the mixed dentition, with Angle Class II malocclusion, increased overjet and overbite, deviated dental midlines and anterior diastemas in the upper arch. RESULTS: It was found that students easily identified increased overjet (92% of students), followed by the presence of diastemas (89%), midline deviation (84.7%) and increased overbite (77.3%). Conversely, approximately half the sample (n=70 or 51% of the students) were able to identify bilateral Angle Class II malocclusion. Nearly all agreed on the need for treatment and that it should be provided by a specialist (n=131 or 95%), but found it difficult to determine the ideal moment to start orthodontic treatment: 48.9% of the sample would begin treatment at the end of the mixed dentition, 41.7% would indicate treatment during deciduous dentition and 7.9% during permanent dentition. CONCLUSIONS: On completion of their undergraduate courses, students encounter difficulties in diagnosing Class II and even find it hard to articulate ideas about a basic treatment protocol to correct this malocclusion.

Diagnóstico de má oclusão de Classe III por alunos de graduação / Class III malocclusion diagnosis by graduation students

OBJETIVO: verificar a capacidade de alunos de graduação diagnosticarem a má oclusão do tipo Classe III de Angle, assim como avaliar a possível indicação para tratamento ortodôntico e o momento ideal de iniciá-lo, levando em consideração as idades dentária e esquelética do paciente. MÉTODOS: a amostra foi composta por 138 alunos do último período de graduação de 10 faculdades de Odontologia do estado do Rio de Janeiro, avaliados por meio de questionários com perguntas fechadas. Foram-lhes apresentados fotografias e modelos de estudo de um paciente portador de má oclusão Classe III de Angle unilateral e, ainda, outras más posições dentárias. RESULTADOS: constatou-se facilidade por parte dos estudantes em identificar o desvio de linha média (n = 124 ou 90 por cento) e a mordida cruzada anterior (n = 122 ou 89 por cento). Em contrapartida, aproximadamente metade da amostra (n = 63 ou 46 por cento dos alunos) foi capaz de reconhecer, no caso clínico, a existência da má oclusão Classe III de Angle unilateral. Apenas 46 por cento deles (n = 63) identificaram a ausência precoce do dente decíduo. Quanto ao tratamento, quase a totalidade concordou com a sua necessidade, porém encontraram dificuldade em reconhecer o momento ideal da indicação ao especialista, com a finalidade de que este realize o tratamento ortodôntico. CONCLUSÃO: os estudantes terminam o curso de graduação com dificuldade no diagnóstico de Classe III e nem mesmo articulam idéias sobre um protocolo básico de tratamento para correção desta anormalidade.

AIM: The aim of this article was to check the ability of undergraduate students to identify Class III malocclusion and also recognize the correct timing for referring them for orthodontic treatment, taking into consideration the patient's dental and skeletal ages. METHODS: The sample included 138 senior students of 10 Dental Schools in the State of Rio de Janeiro, which answered a written questionnaire with objective questions. It was also presented to them the facial photographs and study models of a unilateral Class III patient, which also included other dental irregularities. RESULTS: It could be observed that it was easy for most of the students to identify the dental midline deviation (n = 124 or 90 percent) and the anterior crossbite (n = 122 or 89 percent). However, approximately half of the sample (n = 63 or 46 percent of the students) was able to classify the studied clinical case as a unilateral Class III. Only 46 percent of the group (n = 63) could identify the early loss of a deciduous tooth. Almost the totality of the sample agreed on the orthodontic treatment need, however, it was hard for them to agree on the best timing for referring the case to the specialist and the beginning of this therapy. CONCLUSION: The students graduate in Dental School with difficulties on the correct diagnosis of Class III cases and are not fully aware of a basic protocol for the treatment of this abnormality.