Design and Setting: A cross-sectional study of new patients attending the Hypodontia clinic at Newcastle dental hospital over a period of one year from February 2002 to March 2003.
Methods: Every new hypodontia patient and their parent/guardian, who agreed to take part in the study, were asked to complete separate questionnaires regarding the Child's Oral-health-related Quality of Life. Two occlusal indices, the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) and the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) were used to assess the malocclusion from study models obtained. In addition, the severity of the hypodontia, the number of absent tooth types and the amount of spacing were recorded.
Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 11.9 years (SD 2.02) and an average of 5 missing teeth (range 1-17). Regression analyses of the questionnaire scores highlighted that the functional limitations associated with hypodontia were of greatest concern to both the patients and their parents. Regression analysis showed no association between the PAR and ICON occlusal indices and the child or parent questionnaire scores. In addition, PAR and ICON scoring of the study models proved to be difficult due to the limited number of conventions relating to hypodontia. Interestingly, measurements of spacing in the arches showed a positive association with the child and parental questionnaire scores.
Conclusions: Patients and parents were mainly concerned with the functional limitations associated with hypodontia. In addition, patients were more concerned with overall spacing than spacing in the upper anterior region alone; this may indicate a greater concern for function than aesthetics.