Comparison of malocclusions and orthodontic treatment needs of handicapped and normal children in Ibadan using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI)

Abstract

This study compared the prevalences of malocclusion and Orthodontic needs between normal Nigerian children and their handicapped counterparts using the Dental Aesthetic Index. The samples consisted of 1,010 children -614 normal (321 males; 294 females) and 396 handicapped (199 males;197 females) aged 12-18 years with mean ages for normal and handicapped children as 14.8+/-1.9 and 15.0+/- 2.2 respectively. They were drawn randomly from their respective schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Although some differences were observed in the ten malocclusion traits of DAI between the normal and the handicapped children, none was found statistially significant (P> 0.05). Missing teeth were noted in 1.9% of the normal children as against 4.8% of the handicapped. Crowding of incisal segments was observed in 20.0% of the normal and in 21.7% of the disabled children. Spacing of incisal segments was recorded in 47% and 55.5% of normal and handicapped children respectively. Others in that order were: Disatema-31.7% and 32.3%; Anterior maxillary irregularity - 55.5% and 40.9%; Anterior mandibular irregularity- 50.2% and 34.3%; Overjet - 20.7% and 13.1 %; Reversed overjet - 1.9% and 2.3%; Open bite - 7.5% and 9.8% and total deviations from normal molar relation in 23.8% and 31.3%. Also, although higher proportions of handicapped children than the normal group were noted having DAI scores indicative of treatment needs ranging from elective to mandatory, no significant differences were noted (P>0.05). About 13% of the normal and 16% of the handicapped children in the study sample deserved publicly funded orthodontic care.