Prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in children and adolescents in Bogota, Colombia. An epidemiological study related to different stages of dental development
B. Thilander et al., Prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in children and adolescents in Bogota, Colombia. An epidemiological study related to different stages of dental development, EUR J ORTHO, 23(2), 2001, pp. 153-167
The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion in a popu
lation of Bogotanian children and adolescents in terms of different degrees
of severity in relation to sex and specific stages of dental development,
in order to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment in this part of Col
ombia. A sample of 4724 children (5-17 years of age) was randomly selected
from a population that attended the Dental Health Service; none had been or
thodontically treated. Based on their dental stages the subjects were group
ed into deciduous, early mixed, late mixed and permanent dentition. The reg
istrations were performed according to a method by Bjork et al (1964). The
need for orthodontic treatment was evaluated according to an index used by
the Swedish National Board of Health.
The results showed that 88 per cent of the subjects had some type of anomly
, from mild to severe, half of them recorded as occlusal anomalies, one-thi
rd as space discrepancies, and one-fifth as dental anomalies. No clear sex
differences were noted, except for maxillary overjet, spacing, tooth size t
all more frequent in boys), and crowding (more frequent in girls). Occlusal
anomalies and space discrepancies varied in the different dental developme
ntal periods, as did tipped and rotated teeth.
Little need for orthodontic treatment was found in 35 per cent and moderate
need in 30 per cent. A great need was estimated in 20 per cent, comprising
children with prenormal occlusion, maxillary overjet, or overbite (>6 mm),
posterior unilateral crossbite with midline deviation (>2 mm), severe crow
ding or spacing, congenitally missing maxillary incisors, impacted maxillar
y canines or anterior open bite (>3 mm in the permanent dentition). Urgent
need for treatment was estimated to be 3 per cent, comprising subjects with
extreme post- and pre-normal occlusion, impacted maxillary incisors or ext
ensive aplasia.