Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study, involving 12-years old school children (n=1940) from schools in Cahaya Suria District, Kuala Lumpur. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire and clinical examination. The questionnaire was design to seek and elicit on demographic and perception toward their occlusion. The clinical components were the occlusal profile, which includes overjet, overbite, anterior and posterior cross bite, British Standard Institute Incisor Classification (BSI), and crowding. The association of the variables was calculated by cross tabulation using the chi-square test
Results: It was found that about one third (654) of the subjects were not satisfied with their dentition, of which about two third of this group were being teased by their friends, family or relative. Among those who not satisfied with their dental appearance was higher proportion among female (55.4%) than male. The study also found that overjet, anterior crossbite, BSI, and crowding were found associated with perceived satisfaction with dentition (p<0.005)
Conclusion: The perception on occlusal profile of the sample was based mostly on the aesthetic view more than functional aspects