MALLOCLUSION AND QUALITY OF LIFE: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY AMONG ADOLESCENTS

The normative assessment of malocclusion may overestimate the demand for orthodontic treatment, because dentofacial anomalies are seldom perceived as a functional or aesthetic limiting condition. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion and its relationship with quality of life among adolescents (15-17 years old). A cross-sectional, home-based census was performed in the town of Água Doce, SC, comprising 247 participants examined by 2 calibrated dentists. Dental examinations followed criteria standardized by the WHO; the diagnosis of malocclusion considered the severe and handicapping categories of the DAI index (> 30). The assessment of quality of life used the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire. Poisson regression models assessed the association of variables, as controlled by the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal and socioeconomic conditions. The overall prevalence of malocclusion was 25.1% (19.9-31.1%, 95% confidence interval). The following dental impacts associated to malocclusion in the multivariate analysis: to feel uncomfortable to eat any foods (prevalence ratio = 2.91, p=0.001 CI 1.51-5.64), tense (PR=1.58, p=0.085), embarrassed (PR=2.26, p=0.000) and irritable with other people (PR=2.83, p=0.019).Adolescents with severe and handicapping malocclusion tended to perceive their impaired dental status; health services may use this information for the planning of orthodontic treatments.