To Evaluate Knowledge and Awareness, Regarding the Impact of Malocclusion on Aesthetic and Functional Aspects in Children with Mixed Dentition

Abstract

Introduction: Malocclusions can have a significant negative impact on the functional, social and psychological well-being of young children and their families. Malocclusions may cause pain or discomfort during function or at rest for an individual, most of the times which goes unnoticed by the parents and teachers. Hence this study was done to evaluate knowledge and awareness towards oral health impacts of malocclusion on quality of life among children with mixed dentition using self-report questionnaires.

Aim: To evaluate knowledge and awareness, regarding the impact of malocclusion on aesthetic and functional aspects in children with mixed dentition.

 Methodology: A total of 740 children of various schools in South Bangalore, Karnataka aged 8 to 12 years participated in this questionnaire survey. Children answered the close ended questionnaire.

Results: More than 80% of the participants had low awareness of the impact of malocclusion on the oral health and did not perceive aesthetic and functional limitation, however majority of female participants showed significant awareness regarding impact of malocclusion on aesthetic and function.

Conclusion: The present study shows that awareness about the impacts of malocclusion is very limited in children with mixed dentition. As malocclusions have known to cause physical, psychological, and social consequences that affect quality of life demands for early intervention which intern helps in improving the overall quality of life amongst children.