The present study aimed to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment in Brazilian schoolchildren presenting both late mixed dentition and early permanent dentition as well as to determine the possible factors associated with this necessity. Our randomly selected sample consisted of 407 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 12 years from Nova Friburgo (State of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. All the children were evaluated according to the two components of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), namely, the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC). Data analysis involved multiple logistic regression. Definite need for orthodontic treatment was found in 34.2% and 11.3% of the children according to, respectively, DHC and AC. The most prevalent malocclusions included the following: contact point displacement (crowding), crossbite, and increased overjet. Male gender, permanent dentition and aesthetic reasons were factors associated with a great need for orthodontic treatment. It was concluded that about one-third of the children evaluated had a definite need for orthodontic treatment. This necessity was greater in the permanent dentition, thus emphasizing the importance of an early identification of malocclusions and a timely referral of patients for treatment. The correlation between AC and DHC was considered important since they involve distinctive characteristics.

Introduction: Knowledge of a population's epidemiological situation is important in the planning and provision of dental services. Objectives: Assess the prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 9 to 12 years old from public schools in the city of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Methods: A randomly selected sample consisting of 407 children (53.1% female) who were evaluated by a trained professional, after parental consent. Results: The most prevalent malocclusions were crowding (45.5%), excessive overjet (29.7%), posterior crossbite (19.2%), anterior diastema (16.2%), partially erupted teeth (12.0%) and excessive overbite (10.8%). Class I molar relationship prevailed (76.7%). The presence of diastemas was higher in females and excessive overbite was more prevalent in males, both in mixed dentition. Negative overjet and the presence of partially erupted teeth had a higher prevalence in permanent dentition. Conclusion: It was observed that the mere evaluation of malocclusion prevalence does not reveal case severity or treatment need, both of which are important factors in public health planning.

Abstract:The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interest of both children and parents towards orthodontic treatment and compare it to the normative treatment need as well as to determine the factors related to such an interest. The sample consisted of 407 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 12 years and their parents from Nova Friburgo (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. The orthodontic concern expressed by children and parents was obtained by means of a questionnaire. The normative need was evaluated using two components of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Data analysis involved multiple logistic regression. Normative treatment need was greater than the children's self-perceived treatment need. The parents expressed more interest towards orthodontic treatment of their children than the children themselves. The orthodontic concern expressed by both groups was greater than the normative need for orthodontic treatment, and such a finding was associated with gender of the children (female) and self-perceived treatment need expressed by them. The lack of a relationship between the normative treatment need and the orthodontic concern of children and parents shows that such assessments should be performed when orthodontic treatment is indicated, particularly in terms of public health, as the demand is greater than the services supplied. (J Oral Sci 52, 101-107, 2010)

As má oclusões são consideradas problemas de saúde pública e, como tal, necessitam de um método de avaliação uniforme que priorize o atendimento dos indivíduos com maior necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico. Dentre os vários índices oclusais desenvolvidos com esta finalidade, o Índice de Necessidade de Tratamento Ortodôntico tem sido muito utilizado em diversos países. Como no Brasil a demanda por este tipo de tratamento nos serviços públicos excede a oferta, observa-se a necessidade da implementação de um meio adequado de seleção de pacientes. Assim, objetiva-se elucidar a forma de aplicação deste índice e os seus benefícios, pois o mesmo pode ser bastante útil em encaminhamentos e triagens ao tratamento ortodôntico.

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