Prevalence of malocclusion in deciduous dentition in preschool students in the municipality of Porto de Mós (Portugal)

Abstract

Introduction:Malocclusion is considered a second most common oral disease in children and young adults. It is important to know how to identify these changes in order to allow proper development of the occlusion.The diagnosis of anabnormal development in primary dentition is relevant for prevention and when necessary, early intervention.Objective:The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of malocclusion in children with deciduous dentition and relate this prevalence with sex, age and with different occlusal parameters.Methodology:300 children of both sexes, aged between 3 and 6 years were observed. Data collection was carried out from the clinical examination using observation kits, in schools, in the Group of schools of Porto de Mós, Health District of Leiria. The following characteristics were analyzed: Baume arc Type, spaces, diastemas, crowding, the deciduous second molars distal relation, canine relationship, Overbite and overjet, anterior and posterior bite.Results:The recorded prevalence of malocclusion was 67.7%, was lower at six years old, without any differences in both sexes. The overjet was the most prevalent malocclusion (42.7%) in the observed children. There was a high prevalence of malocclusion in children with type II Baume arch, without spaces or primate spaces, with distal step, canine class II or with the middle line shifted to the right.Conclusions:There there was a high prevalence of malocclusion in children of the schools in the municipality of Porto de Mós, and is related to the different occlusal parameters.

Keywords:children, deciduous dentition, malocclusion.