Preventive and interceptive orthodontic demand for malocclusion

Abstract

Orthodontic unit, University College Hospital, Ibadan is young and in need of baseline data for effective planning. The main aim of this study was to determine the nature of orthodontic demands in the unit that could benefit from preventive and interceptive treatment so as to enhance treatment planning, teaching and further research. Consecutive patients who presented for treatment in the Unit between May 1997 and November 1999 were included in the study. The patients aged 5-1 9 years with mean age of 8.8 ± 0.82 years. One hundred and twenty-one (60.5%) of the orthodontic cases that presented for treatment needed one form of preventive and interceptive treatment or the other such as extraction of retained primary teeth, use of upper removable orthodontic appliances to correct teeth in cross bite, extraction of erupted supernumerary teeth and fabrication of oral habit breaking appliances such as goal post appliance. Ninety-three (76.9%) of these children had retained primary anterior teeth while 9.1% had proclination of maxillary anterior teeth with moderate spacing. Based on dental history and clinical examination, nine (7.4%) children were involved with oral habits, seven (5.8%) and one (0.8%) had anterior crossbite and supernumerary teeth, respectively. The remaining 39.5% needed full-blown orthodonti c treatments. No sex predilection was found in relation to the various needs (P > 0.05). We suggest a need for more emphasis on preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment in our environment due to the relatively high prevalence of these presenting needs.