Malocclusion and its impact on quality of life of school children in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Malocclusion, though not life-threatening,is an important public health issue, which has a large impacton the individual, causing discomfort, social and functionallimitations.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate objectively orthodontic treatment needsin Nigerian schoolchildren and the impact of malocclusion ontheir quality of life.METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved schoolchildrenaged 12 to 16 years from four randomly selected secondaryschools in Lagos, Nigeria. A prestructured questionnaire wasadministered and a clinical examination was conducted.Occlusal status was assessed for each subject using the DentalAesthetic Index (DAI). Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was also evaluated.RESULTS: There were 410 (50.9%) females and 395 (49.1%)males aged 12 to 16 years. Mean age was 14.5 ± 1.3 years.Irregularity of teeth was the most prevalent malocclusion.Generalised spacing and midline diastema were seen in 59%and 31% respectively; crowding in 43% of the schoolchildren.Other occlusal anomalies were recorded. There was nostatistically significant difference between the sexes. Over onethird of the study population did not need treatment, treatmentwas mandatory in 24.3%, elective in 21% and highly desirablein 17%. More females than males did not need orthodontictreatment. Oral conditions had no effect on the quality of life of85.3% of the study sample.CONCLUSION: Most Nigerian schoolchildren were found tohave a dental appearance that needed orthodontic treatment.However, components of the oral conditions impacted on thequality of life of a few subjects. Psycho-social need is veryimportant in orthodontic diagnosis. WAJM 2010; 29(6) 417­424