BACKGROUND

Malocclusion is one of the three major oral diseases and may cause deterioration in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aims to determine the prevalence of malocclusion by gender and its impact on quality of life among 12- and 15-year-old children in Shanghai.

METHODS

This study summarizes the data obtained in the Shanghai Oral Health Epidemiological Survey conducted in 2019. Random cluster sampling was used to select students in Shanghai. A total of 1591 12-year-old children and 747 15-year-old children were included. Each student underwent an oral examination and completed a questionnaire. The Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) was adopted to measure the objective severity of malocclusion and Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) was applied to evaluate quality of life of schoolchildren. Comparisons of COHIP scores were performed among different treatment needs and difficulties by t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between genders except that the prevalence of deep overbite in 12-year-old boys (1.11 ± 0.95) was significantly higher than that in girls (0.93 ± 0.88) while the prevalence of crossbite among 12-year-old girls (26%) is significantly higher than boys (20%). Malocclusion in 15-year-old children was descended compared with 12-year-old. 15-year-old students demonstrates larger impact of malocclusion on oral health than 12-year-old group except self-image. Health impacts (COHIP) increase significantly as the malocclusion becomes severer except self-image in 12-year-old group.

CONCLUSIONS

In Shanghai, the severity of malocclusion in 15-year-old children was less than 12-year-old children. Malocclusion has greater influence on oral health of 15-year-old children than 12-year-old children. Severer malocclusion generally correlates with higher level of oral health impacts in schoolchildren.