Abstract Background: Malocclusion is the third most common oral health issue, after dental caries and periodontal disease. It can significantly affect dental function and aesthetics. Previous studies on the prevalence of malocclusion in children have shown considerable geographic and cultural variability. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 2–14 years in a community-based setting. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of different malocclusion types, including molar, canine and incisor relationships, as well as crossbite, spacing and crowding in a sample of children. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted with a sample of 2613 children aged 2–14 years. The inclusion criteria were healthy primary and mixed dentition, no previous orthodontic treatment and no major craniofacial abnormalities. Clinical examinations were performed by a trained examiner to assess molar, canine and incisor relationships (using Angle’s Classification), terminal plane relationships, overjet, overbite, crossbite, spacing and crowding. Descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies) and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results: Class I molar relation was the most prevalent, observed in 68.5% of children, followed by Class II molar relation in 27.1% and Class III molar relation in 4.4%. In primary dentition, the mesial step was the most common terminal plane relationship, found in 68.6% of children, while the flush terminal plane and distal step were observed in 20.4% and 8.2%, respectively. Regarding canine relationships, Class I was present in 62.0%, Class II in 35.8% and Class III in 2.2%. For incisor relationships, Class I was the most frequent (57.9%), followed by Class II (38.8%) and Class III (3.4%). The prevalence of crossbite was 13.9%, with the majority being anterior crossbites. Dental spacing was seen in 24.4% of children with permanent dentition and 31.8% with primary dentition, while crowding was present in 28.8% of children. These findings underscore the common occurrence of both spacing and crowding and highlight the predominance of Class I molar relationships in this population. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of early orthodontic assessment, especially for conditions such as crowding and spacing. The study contributes to the understanding of malocclusion prevalence in children and supports the need for region-specific interventions based on genetic, environmental and cultural factors.
Peter et al. (Fri,) studied this question.