Assad Abbas, Iffat Batool Syed, Hasnain Abbas, Faiza Malik.
Malocclusion and its relationship with dental caries in a sample of Pakistani school children.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;35(4):615-9.

Malocclusion is one of the most prevalent dental problems observed in children which may cause oral health problems, loss of function and psychosocial problems related to impaired dentofacial aesthetics. Malocclusion and dental caries have a negative impact on Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion and dental caries in school children, using Index Of Orthodontic Treatment Need (Dental Health Component) IOTN (DHC) and Decayed, Missing, Filled,Teeth (DMFT) score. Also to evaluate any relationship between malocclusion/ orthodontic treatment need and dental caries. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 574 school children aged 11 to 16 years having permanent dentition, no history of orthodontic treatment and no dental anomalies. Each student’s number of DMFT was computed and the IOTN (DHC) was recorded based on contact point displacement only. Results of the current study which comprised of 574 school children, with 320 males and 254 females, exhibited a mean IOTN grade of 2.4 ± 1.016 and a mean DMFT score of 2.57 ± 2.7. The prevalence of malocclusion was found to be 75.6% while the prevalence of dental caries was 64.6%. The Pearson correlation coefficient found a significant correlation between IOTN and DMFT scores. The brushing frequency and gender did not correlate with DMFT scores, while sugar intake, age and SES had a significant correlation with DMFT. Taking IOTN into consideration, age and diet showed no correlation with it, whereas gender and Socio Economic Status (SES) status displayed a significant correlation with IOTN grades. The current study yielded a significant correlation between malocclusion and dental caries. Healthy diet and proper brushing technique are important to maintain a healthy dentition, despite the presence of malocclusion.

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