Impact of malocclusion and dentofacial anomalies on the prevalence and severity of dental caries among adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between malocclusion/dentofacial anomalies and dental caries among adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 509 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years enrolled at public schools in the city of Osório in southern Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered a structured questionnaire on demographic and socioeconomic variables. A trained examiner recorded the presence of malocclusion (Dental Aesthetic Index [DAI]), traumatic dental injury, and dental caries. Data analysis involved the chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for the multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 44.8% of the adolescents had dental caries (mean DFMT  =  1.33 ± 1.84). The DAI index ranged from 15 to 77 (mean  =  29.0 ± 7.9); 43.6% of the sample had severe malocclusion and 11.6% had traumatic dental injury. The prevalence and severity of dental caries were significantly greater among adolescents with severe malocclusion. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that adolescents with severe or handicapping malocclusion had a 31% greater probability of having dental caries (prevalence ratio: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.02-1.67), independently of demographic, socioeconomic, or clinical aspects. The orthodontic characteristics associated with the occurrence and severity of caries were maxillary irregularity ≥3 mm (P  =  .021) and abnormal molar relationship (P  =  .021). CONCLUSIONS: Handicapping malocclusion, maxillary irregularity, and abnormal molar relationship were associated with the occurrence and severity of dental caries. The findings suggest that the prevention and treatment of these conditions can contribute to a reduction in dental caries among adolescents.

Bilateral severe root resorption associated with impacted maxillary canines: details on diagnosis and treatment plan: a case report / Reabsorção radicular severa associada a caninos maxilares impactados: detalhes sobre o diagnóstico e plano de tratamento: relato de caso

Caninos maxilares estão em segundo lugar entre os dentes mais frequentemente impactados nos arcos dentários. Reabsorções radiculares são achados comuns em dentes adjacentes ao canino maxilar impactado (CMI) e podem potencialmente causar a perda dentária. O tratamento geralmente é complicado quando o diagnóstico é dado em estágios avançados. A tomografia computadorizada (TC) tem provado ser superior na determinação da presença e grau de reabsorção radicular no dente adjacente ao CMI, auxiliando nos planos de tratamento e nas decisões clínicas. O presente artigo descreve o caso clínico de um paciente com impacção bilateral de caninos maxilares associada a reabsorção radicular severa do primeiro pré-molar superior direito e do incisivo lateral superior esquerdo, focando na importância do uso da TC para o diagnóstico e plano de tratamento.

Maxillary canines are the second most frequently impacted teeth in the dental arch. Root resorptions are often found in teeth adjacent to an impacted maxillary canine (IMC) and may potentially lead to tooth loss. The treatment is often complicated when diagnosis is established at a later stage. Computed tomography (CT) has been proven to be superior in determining the presence and degree of root resorption in teeth adjacent to IMC to support treatment plans and clinical decisions. This report describes the case of a patient with bilaterally impacted maxillary canines associated with severe root resorption of the right first premolar and the left lateral incisor and focuses on the importance of CT imaging for diagnosis and treatment plan.

Malocclusion impacts adolescents' oral health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that malocclusion does not have an independent and negative effect on quality of life of adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional design study comprised a sample of 519 children, aged 11 to 14 years, attending public schools in Osorio, a city in southern Brazil. One calibrated examiner carried out clinical examinations and recorded dental caries (decayed/missing/filled teeth), malocclusion (Dental Aesthetic Index), and dental trauma. Participants completed the Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14), Impact Short Form, and their parents or guardians answered questions about socioeconomic status. Simple and multivariate linear regressions were performed to assess covariates for the overall CPQ11-14 scores. RESULTS: Greater impacts on oral health-related quality of life were observed for girls (P  =  .007), children with a lower household income (P  =  .016), those living in nonnuclear families (P < .001), and those with more decayed/missing/filled teeth (P  =  .001). Malocclusion was also associated with oral health-related quality of life: the severity of malocclusion was significantly related to higher scores of CPQ11-14 even after scores were adjusted for control variables. CPQ11-14 increased by approximately 1 point for each increase in the severity of malocclusion. CONCLUSIONS: Malocclusion has a negative effect on adolescents' quality of life, independent of dental caries or traumatic dental injuries. Socioeconomic inequalities and clinical conditions are important features in adolescents' quality of life.