Prevalence Of Dental Malocclusion And Occlusal Traits Among 12- 16-Year-Old Children In Shaiosudoku District

ABSTRACT Background Dental malocclusion is the third most dominant dental condition behind dental caries and periodontitis. Unlike other disease conditions, dental malocclusion is a deviation in the arrangement of the teeth from the norm. It is not a life-threatening condition but can result in difficulty in mastication, speech and maintenance of good oral hygiene. Data on the prevalence of dental malocclusion based on acceptable classification of the condition remain scarce. Objectives The study therefore sought to determine the prevalence of dental malocclusion and occlusal traits among 12-16-year-old school children in the Shai-Osudoku District in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. This study also sought to determine the distribution of clinically relevant occlusal traits and the prevalence of occlusal anomalies in an orthodontically relevant period of dental development among the study population. Methods: The study was conducted using a descriptive school-based cross-sectional study design that involved interviewing and clinical examination of 340 school children between the ages of 12-16 years from randomly selected schools in the Shai-Osudoku district of Ghana. During the clinical examination, clinically relevant occlusal traits were recorded together with class of molar relationship based on Angle’s classification of malocclusion using a modified WHO/FDI dentofacial anomalies assessment form. Data were recorded in excel and imported in STATA version 15 software for analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted which included Fisher’s exact tests to determine the factors influencing the development of the various classes of dental malocclusion. Results: Results showed the mean age of 13.51.3, majority (93.2%) of the respondents had various forms of occlusal anomalies. Prevalence of Class I, Class II and Class III malocclusion were found to be 69.2%, 5.6% and 19.1% respectively. Posterior crossbite, crowding and discrepancies in the midline were detected in 21%, 26% and 24.4% of the respondents respectively. Tooth malrotation (χ 2 31.221, p