Occlusal Traits of Primary School Children and the Need for Early Orthodontic Intervention

Abstract

Background: Early orthodontic treatments (EOT) are started in primary or mixed dentition; they can be preventive,
interceptive or corrective depending on the clinical presentation. The purpose of this study was to assess the need for early
orthodontic intervention in primary school population in Lagos.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample comprised 421 primary children in Lagos state,
between the ages of 6-8 years. The occlusion of the study subjects was assessed using the DentalAesthetic Index (DAI).
Results: Male children constituted 55.3%, while females made up 44.7% of the studied population. The majority of the
children had dmft scores <1 (97% Angles class I molar relationship was the predominant molar relationship (89.1%),
followed by class II 6.4%) and class III (4.5%).About a quarter of the children had one form of oral habit. Most of the children
(77%) were found to have little or no need for orthodontic intervention (DAI score < 25). Elective treatment was desirable in
17% (DAI score 25-30), while in 5% treatment was either highly desirable or mandatory. It was also discovered that 90% of
children with anterior open bite had DAI scores >25 and 48% of the children who had one form of habit also had DAI scores
>25.

Conclusion: The prevalence of malocclusion observed in the study population was 22.8%. Most of the children within this
age group, who required early orthodontic intervention, had oral habits, anterior open bite, or dento-alveolar disproportion.