Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of malocclusions and need of orthodontic treatment in children from 12 to 15 years old, from the city of Braga, through Dental Aesthetic Index – DAI; to determinate the difference for DAI values between different gender; to determinate the age of higher prevalence of malocclusion; to establish a possible relationship between the malocclusion and racial, socioeconomics and demographic variables and to evaluate the aesthetic perception of the smile and necessity of orthodontic treatment of the children included in the sample.
Methods: An observational type cross study was carried out in 469 children, using DAI, accepted by WHO as a cross-cultural index.
Results: The results demonstrate a prevalence of minor malocclusions of 46,8 %, definite malocclusions of 26,5 %, severe malocclusions of 15,6 % and very severe or handicapping malocclusions of 11,1 %. According to DAI, 46,8 % of the children presented none or little need for orthodontic treatment, 26,5 % elective treatment need, 15,6 % highly desirable treatment need and 11,1 % mandatory treatment need. A middle value of DAI of 26,6 for children of the female gender and of 27,6 for males was observed. The age with higher prevalence of malocclusion was the 13 years old group. The malocclusion was not affected by racial, socioeconomics and demographic variables (p>0.05). The patientxs opinion for the need of orthodontic treatment and desire for it became higher with the increasing severity of malocclusion.
Conclusions: In spite of only 46,8 % of the children included in the sample presents none or little orthodontic treatment need, the importance of the dental appearance was considered a psychological important factor in the wish of orthodontic treatment.