Self-perception and Normative Assessment of Malocclusion among Nigerian Undergraduate Students.

Objectives: To determine self-perception of Malocclusion amongst undergraduate students of University of Lagos.
To assess normative needs amongst undergraduate students of University of Lagos.
To compare self-perception and normative needs amongst undergraduate students of University of Lagos.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study comprising of 217 undergraduate students of University of Lagos between the ages of 18-29 years. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview- administered questionnaire and clinical examination. The Aesthetic Component of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs was used to assess malocclusion. Data was analysed using the Epi info 7 software. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient, rs statistic was used to assess the correlation between the Aesthetic Component of the examiner and that of the respondents.
Results: There is a strong positive association between self-perception and normative assessment of malocclusion. There is an agreement between self-perception of malocclusion of the respondent and normative assessment of malocclusion.
Conclusions: There was no significant difference found between orthodontic rating and the respondents’ rating of the attractiveness of their occlusion in a sample of undergraduate students of University of Lagos.