Malocclusion Among School Children in Enugu, Nigeria

Method- This was a cross-sectional study with 200 school children selected randomly from a secondary school in Enugu metropolis. Data was collected by interviewer administered questionnaire; the students’ biodata were collected, information on possible eatiology gathered, with subsequent examination of their teeth done. SSPS version 17 was used to analyze data and test of significance were also conducted.

Result– The participants with Angle’s class I Malocclusion were 72.5% (145/200), Class II 7.5% (15/200) and class III 14.5%(29/200); 20.0%(40/200) had anterior open bite, 10.0% (20/200) had posterior open bite, 20.0 % (40/200) had increased overjet, 19.5% ( 39/200)  had reduced overjet, 23.0% (46/200) had increased overbite,15.0% (30/200) had reduced overbite, 4.0 % (8/200) had deep bite,25.5% (51/200) has cross bite,32.0% (64/200) had midline diastema and 21.5% (43/200) had generalized spacing.  Skeletal pattern present were: class I  51.0%, Class II 20.5%, class III 28.5%. 28.5% of the participants had positive history of oral habit while 5% had positive family history of malocclusion.

Conlusion- The study revealed a higher prevalence of Angle’s class I malocclusion, followed by class III, then class II. Also, the higher association of oral habit to the aetiology of malocclusion from this study shows that it is dependent on family history. It could also be possible the habits  were acquired, maybe through peer influence which resulted in their malocclusion.