DAI scores and its relation to self-perceived dental aesthetic and orthodontic concern in Bangladesh and Japan

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between the severity of occlusal irregularities and orthodontic treatment concern among the population of a developing country using DAI score and to compare with the relationship found in a developed country.Materials and methodsThe sample comprised 400 randomly selected university students of Bangladesh, a developing country, 210 males and 190 females, aged 20–27 years. A pretested questionnaire was used to assess the subjects’ satisfaction with own dental appearance and orthodontic treatment concern; the actual severity of malocclusion was determined using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Statistical analysis was carried out using t-test for gender differences; Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients, Scheffe's post hoc test, one way ANOVA and logistic regression analysis were done for correlation between malocclusion severity and response to questionnaire. The data from a similar study that was carried out on the university students of Japan, a developed country, was compared.ResultIn Bangladeshi sample, males were more affected by malocclusion. Moderate correlation was found between malocclusion, self-satisfaction and treatment concern where satisfaction was decreased and treatment desire was increased with the severity of malocclusion. In Japanese sample, the prevalence of malocclusion was found more in females. Self-satisfaction and malocclusion showed weak correlation and no significant correlation was found between treatment concern and malocclusion.ConclusionAlthough DAI can be used universally to evaluate malocclusion and self-perception, it should be used carefully to determine the subjects’ actual desire for orthodontic treatment where the socio-economic condition can be a provocative factor.     

Is the adolescent's esthetic concern associated with anterior occlusal conditions or the malocclusion severity level?

ObjectivesTo assess the esthetic impact of anterior occlusal conditions and malocclusion severity levels.Materials and MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study of 700 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years was conducted. The Oral Aesthetic Subjective Impact Scale (OASIS) was used to evaluate the subjective esthetic impact of malocclusion. The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) criteria were used to diagnose the anterior occlusal characteristics in isolation and the severity levels of malocclusion. The variables with P < .20 in the individual analyses were tested in multiple logistic regression models, and those with P < .10 remained in the model. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsOf the adolescents, 42% showed negative self-perception of malocclusion. In addition, 15.4% of adolescents had severe malocclusion (DAI 3) and 18.9% very severe malocclusion (DAI 4). Crowding and spacing were shown to be 2.90 (CI: 2.06–4.09) and 2.53 (CI: 1.65–3.86) times, respectively, more likely to cause a negative esthetic impact in adolescents (P < .05). In addition, adolescents with orthodontic treatment need (DAI 2, 3, and 4) were more likely to report a negative esthetic impact (P < .05).ConclusionsAnterior crowding and spacing are the conditions that most influence the esthetic concern of adolescents. Adolescents with very severe malocclusion and higher orthodontic treatment need are more likely to report a negative esthetic impact.     

Desire for orthodontic treatment and associated factors among adolescents in southern Brazil

Objective:To estimate the prevalence of the desire for orthodontic treatment and investigate associated factors among adolescents in southern Brazil.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out with 704 adolescents aged 12 and 13 years at municipal public schools in the city of Balneário Camboriú (southern Brazil). The adolescents answered a previously tested questionnaire addressing satisfaction with their dental appearance, speech function, chewing function, and the desire for orthodontic treatment. The parents/guardians answered a questionnaire addressing satisfaction with their child''s dental appearance and socioeconomic variables. A trained and calibrated orthodontist collected clinical data on malocclusion using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance.Results:The prevalence of the desire for orthodontic treatment was 69.6% (490/704). In the adjusted analysis, the outcome was significantly more prevalent among girls (P < .001), those with difficulty chewing (P  =  .026), those dissatisfied with their dental appearance (P < .001), and those with greater malocclusion severity (P < .001). The following orthodontic characteristics were associated with the desire for orthodontic treatment in the multivariate model: diastema in anterior segment (P < .001), anterior maxillary irregularity (P < .001), maxillary overjet ≥6 mm (P < .001), and mandibular overjet (P  =  .047).Conclusions:The desire for orthodontic treatment among 12- and 13-year-old adolescents is influenced by gender, dissatisfaction with one''s dental appearance, difficulty chewing, malocclusion severity, and orthodontic characteristics. These findings should be considered together with normative indications regarding the need for orthodontic treatment in adolescents.     

Impact of malocclusion on oral health–related quality of life in young adults

Objective:To assess oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) in young adult patients with malocclusion and to measure the association between orthodontic treatment need and OHRQoL.Materials and Methods:The study sample comprised 190 young adults aged 18 to 25 years who were attending orthodontic clinics at the Faculty of Dentistry. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need-Dental Health Component was used to measure orthodontic treatment need. Each participant was assessed for OHRQoL before and after treatment by using the Oral Health Impact Profile, Chinese version (OHIP-14).Results:Patients who had little or no, borderline, and actual need for orthodontic treatment represented 21.6%, 50.5%, and 27.9% of the total sample, respectively. OHRQoL (total OHIP-14 score and score for each domain) improved after treatment (P < .05). Significant differences in summary OHIP-14 scores were apparent with respect to orthodontic treatment need. Participants with high treatment need reported a significantly greater negative impact on the overall OHRQoL score. The greatest impact was seen in the psychological discomfort domain and the psychological disability domain.Conclusion:Malocclusion has a significant negative impact on OHRQoL. This is greatest for the psychological discomfort and psychological disability domains. The orthodontic treatment of malocclusion improves OHRQoL of patients.     

An evaluation of self-esteem and quality of life in orthodontic patients: Effects of crowding and protrusion

Objective:To evaluate the effect of dental crowding and lip protrusion on self-esteem and quality of life (QOL) in female orthodontic patients with Class I malocclusion.Materials and Methods:The study sample consisted of 201 patients (mean age 22.6 ± 3.0 years) who sought orthodontic treatment. All the patients were evaluated before treatment in terms of their degree of dental crowding and lip protrusion. Rosenberg''s Self-Esteem Scale and the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) were used to determine self-esteem and QOL and to evaluate whether these values were related to malocclusion severity.Results:The results indicated that severe crowding and severe protrusion can result in lower self-esteem and poorer QOL (P < .05) than mild crowding and protrusion in Class I malocclusion. In the oral function component of the OQLQ, the severity of protrusion did not have significant effect.Conclusions:In Class I malocclusion, patients with mild crowding or protrusion had significantly better self-esteem and QOL scores than severe crowding or protrusion patients.     

Effectiveness of twin-block and Mandibular Protraction Appliance-IV in the improvement of pharyngeal airway passage dimensions in Class II malocclusion subjects with a retrognathic mandible

Objective:To test the hypothesis that twin-block and Mandibular Protraction Appliance-IV (MPA-IV) are not effective in improving the pharyngeal airway passage (PAP) dimensions among Class II malocclusion subjects with a retrognathic mandible.Materials and Methods:Eighty-three subjects ranging in age from 8 to 14 years were divided into four groups. Group I included 30 Class I malocclusion subjects (healthy controls); group II consisted of 16 Class II malocclusion subjects (Class II controls); group III had 16 subjects in whom Class II malocclusion was treated by MPA-IV; and the remaining 21 subjects formed group IV, whose Class II malocclusions were corrected by twin-block appliance. Lateral cephalograms recorded at the beginning of orthodontic treatment in group I subjects and at the beginning and end of follow-up/treatment with functional appliance in group II, III, and IV subjects were analyzed to determine the PAP dimensions. Paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey tests were applied for statistical analysis, and a P-value .05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Soft palate length was decreased significantly in group III (P < .05) and group IV (P < .001) subjects. Soft palate thickness in group IV subjects was increased significantly as compared to group II (P < .05) and group III (P < .01) subjects. The improvement in soft palate inclination in group III and group IV subjects was significant (P < .01). The oropharynx depth was increased significantly in group III (P < .05) and group IV (P < .001) subjects. The depth of the hypopharynx was increased significantly (P < .01) in group IV subjects.Conclusions:The twin-block appliance was more efficient than the MPA-IV in the improvement of PAP dimensions among Class II malocclusion subjects with retrognathic mandible.     

Assessment of orthodontic treatment needs in Brazilian schoolchildren according to the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the distribution, prevalence and severity of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs in schoolchildren from the northeast of Brazil aged between 13 and 15 years. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 600 adolescents (264 males and 336 females) randomly selected and representative of schoolchildren living in Recife (Brazil) was obtained from 12 public schools. METHOD: The need for orthodontic treatment was measured using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). RESULTS: Most of the subjects (77%) were deemed to require orthodontic treatment. Only about 5.8% had a handicapping malocclusion that needed mandatory treatment. A severe malocclusion for which treatment was highly desirable was recorded in 47.5% of the adolescents and 23.7% had a definite malocclusion for which treatment was elective. Three main occlusal features were responsible for allocating subjects into the group of "orthodontic treatment required": crowding (47.3%), tooth loss (22.3%) and maxillary overjet of more than 3 mm (21.8%). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in mean DAI scores between males and females. CONCLUSIONS: 77% of adolescents from northeast Brazil were in need of orthodontic treatment for dental health reasons. The distribution of DAI scores among Brazilian adolescents is different from that reported in other populations. This study provides baseline data on the need and demand for orthodontic treatment among Brazilian students.     

Perception of orthodontic treatment need among Swedish children,adolescents and young adults

Objective: Perceptions of orthodontic treatment need and perceptions of dental aesthetics was investigated among subjects ages 10, 15 and 19.

Materials and methods: A total of 489 subjects completed a questionnaire after inspecting 10 photographs in the Aesthetic Component scale of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need to (i) reveal the lower limit for orthodontic treatment need and (ii) rate their dental aesthetics by selecting the most similar photo.

Results: The mean lower limit for orthodontic treatment need was significantly higher (and closer to literature-based standards) among subjects, age 10 (4.2?±?1.5), than among subjects, age 15 (3.6?±?1.2) (p?=?.0009), and subjects, age 19 (3.5?±?1.2) (p?=?.00002). Among subjects ages 15 and 19, the lower limit for orthodontic treatment need was lower in groups with (i) self-perceived orthodontic treatment need (p?=?.002 and .001, respectively) and (ii) previous orthodontic treatment (p?=?.005 and .035, respectively). Self-perceived orthodontic treatment need was present in more than one-third of subjects, age 19, who had previously received orthodontic treatment. Subjects of foreign origin reported that their dental aesthetics were worse (p?=?.002) and those same subjects, age 19, set the lower limit for orthodontic treatment lower (p?=?.047) than Swedes, age 19.

Conclusions: The lower limit for orthodontic treatment need among subjects, age 10, was higher – compared to subjects, ages 15 and 19 – and closer to literature-based standards. Subjects with self-perceived orthodontic treatment need, subjects with previous orthodontic treatment, and subjects age 19 of foreign origin, have higher aesthetic demands.     

Digital images as an alternative to orthodontic casts in assessing malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need

Objective. To investigate the potential use of two-dimensional digital images as an alternative to orthodontic casts in the assessment of malocclusion and orthodoantic treatment need. Material and Methods. Assessment of malocclusion (Angle's classification of molars, overjet, and overbite) and orthodontic treatment need (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN): Dental Health Component (DHC) and Aesthetic Component (AC)) was conducted on 313 study casts and their images by two trained and calibrated examiners. Agreement of orthodontic treatment need and Angle's molar classification was assessed employing Kappa statistics (κ). Agreement of overjet and overbite (measured in mm) was assessed in comparison and correlation analyses. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of assessment was investigated. Results. There was substantial agreement of the molar relationship classifications (κ >0.70), orthodontic treatment need as assessed by IOTN-DHC (κ =0.79) and IOTN-AC (κ =0.56) between measurements obtained from orthodontic casts and their images. There was also substantial agreement of measurements of overjet and overbite as obtained from orthodontic casts and their images. The standardized directional differences of overjet and overbite were ≤0.2. The intra-class correlation coefficients of assessments of overjet and overbite obtained from orthodontic casts and their images were >0.90. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability for the assessment of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need was acceptable. Conclusion. Two-dimensional digital images can be used as an alternative to casts in assessment of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need.     

Prevalence of malocclusion traits and orthodontic treatment in a Finnish adult population

Objective The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of malocclusion traits and the extent of orthodontic treatment in a Finnish adult population. Materials and methods The study population comprised subjects (n?=?1964) from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 living in the city of Oulu and within 100?km of it. A clinical oral and dental examination with registration of occlusion was carried out in 2012 in connection with a 46-year follow-up survey. Data on previous orthodontic treatment were collected based on a questionnaire. Results In the clinical examination, 39.5% of the subjects had at least one malocclusion trait. The most common malocclusion traits were lateral crossbite (17.9%), overbite?≥?6?mm (11.7%) and overjet?≥?6?mm (9.7%). Crossbite on the left premolars, negative overjet and increased overbite were found more frequently in men. The prevalence of malocclusion traits was at the same level in treated and untreated groups. Overall, 18.6% of the subjects had undergone orthodontic treatment. Women showed a significantly higher prevalence of orthodontic treatment. Conclusions The most common malocclusion trait in the present study was lateral crossbite. Significant male dominance in the prevalence of malocclusion was observed, which has not been reported earlier in Finland. Orthodontic treatment of malocclusion traits was more common among females in Northern Finland. This study indicates that orthodontic treatment provided in childhood was, on average, adequate in reducing malocclusion traits to the level observed in the general population.     

Temporomandibular disorders in prospective orthodontic patients:: Their association with malocclusion severity and impact on oral health–related quality of life

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in prospective orthodontic patients. The association between TMDs and malocclusion severity as well as the impact of TMDs on oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) were also examined.Materials and MethodsA total of 350 consecutive patients seeking orthodontic treatment were invited to participate in the study. The presence of TMDs was established with the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI), while malocclusion severity and OHRQoL were evaluated using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index and Oral Health Impact Profile–14 (OHIP-14), respectively. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman''s correlation (P < .05).ResultsOf the 350 patients, 164 consented to participation. Data from 26 participants were excluded because of incomplete entries, and that from 138 subjects (mean age 21.02 ± 5.45 years) were examined. TMD-related symptoms were present in two-thirds of the subjects, with 20.3% experiencing moderate/severe TMDs. While no significant difference in PAR scores were observed between the group with no TMDs and those with TMDs, subjects with TMDs had significantly higher OHIP-14 summary/domain scores than those without TMDs. Although a moderately strong correlation was observed between the FAI and summary OHIP-14 scores (r_s = 0.57), no association was observed between FAI and PAR index scores.ConclusionsThe prevalence of TMD-related symptoms in prospective orthodontic patients was high, emphasizing the importance of screening the masticatory system before initiating orthodontic therapy. Although the presence of TMDs was not associated with malocclusion severity, it had a significant negative impact on OHRQoL.     

Is there a relationship between mandibular cortical bone thickness and orthodontic treatment time?

ObjectivesTo determine whether there was a correlation between patients'' bone thickness and time spent in orthodontic treatment. The secondary aim was to study the influence of Angle classification, extraction treatment, and age on overall treatment duration.Materials and MethodsIn this retrospective study, records of 971 orthodontic patients from two centers were reviewed and 500 subjects were included after imposing inclusion/exclusion criteria. The Mental Index was used to determine patients'' bone density. For the Mental Index, a line perpendicular to the inferior border of the mandible was drawn on a panoramic radiograph so that it intersected the inferior border of the mental foramen. The mandibular cortical thickness was measured along this line. Two-sample t-test or a chi-square test, followed by multiple linear regression, were used to identify the factors affecting treatment duration.ResultsMandibular cortical thickness was negatively associated with treatment time for all subjects (P < .05). After adjusting for covariables, it remained significant for center-1, but non-significant for center-2 subjects. Angle Class II and Class III malocclusion, extraction therapy, and age had significant positive correlations with treatment duration (P < .05).ConclusionsThere is a negative correlation between the mandibular cortical thickness and orthodontic treatment duration. An extraction treatment plan and treatment of Angle Class II and Class III malocclusions significantly increase the duration of orthodontic treatment. Additionally, patients over 12 years of age have shorter treatment times compared to patients under 12 years of age.     

Malocclusions and orthodontic treatment needs in a group of Spanish adolescents using the Dental Aesthetic Index

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need among Spanish adolescents and compare with other populations. METHODS: The study sample comprised 744 schoolchildren from urban and rural populations in Granada province (Southern Spain), aged from 14-20 years, who had received no orthodontic treatment. The measurement instrument was the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). RESULTS: The mean DAI score of the whole series was 25.6 (SD, 7.94). The distribution of the four DAI grades was: DAI 1, no anomaly or malocclusion, 58.6%; DAI 2, definite malocclusion, 20.3%; DAI 3, severe malocclusion, 11.2%; DAI 4, very severe or disabling malocclusion, 9.9%. There were no statistically significant differences in DAI score between genders or those in rural vs. urban residence, but a significant difference was found between social classes, with subjects of low social class presenting the worst scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The distribution of DAI scores among Spanish adolescents is similar to that reported in other populations.     

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.     

Need and demand for orthodontic treatment in an adult Swedish population.

The prevalence of malocclusion, the need for and the demand for orthodontic treatment was studied in a randomly selected adult Swedish population > or = 20 years of age. Nine-hundred-and-twenty subjects were examined of whom 669 had their own teeth in occlusion. From those a group of 157 subjects was selected on the basis of objective need and/or subjective demand for orthodontic treatment. The various regimens of treatment required in this group were investigated. The prevalence of malocclusion ranged from 17 to 53 per cent in the various age groups. The spectrum of malocclusion was similar to that previously reported in Swedish children. The awareness of their malocclusion was higher among younger than older subjects and among those who had severe malocclusion. Objective treatment need, evaluated by two experienced orthodontists, was estimated at 11 per cent of the total population, whilst orthodontic treatment was requested by approximately 5 per cent of the population studied.     

Root resorption in relation to a modified piezocision technique

ObjectivesTo evaluate root resorption of lower incisors and canines quantitatively in a group of patients who underwent orthodontic treatment with piezocision and/or a collagen reinforcement technique with a fully resorbable three-dimensional (3D) collagen xenograft matrix compared with a control group.Materials and MethodsThe study sample of this secondary analysis consisted of 32 periodontally healthy patients with angle Class I malocclusion or mild Class II or III malocclusion and moderate irregularity index scores who underwent orthodontic treatment and had before (T0) and after treatment (T1) cone-beam computed tomography scans. Root resorption of lower incisors and canines was assessed quantitatively in the following four groups: the control group received orthodontic treatment without piezocision, experimental group 1 received orthodontic treatment with piezocision, experimental group 2 received orthodontic treatment with piezocision and a 3D collagen matrix, and experimental group 3 received orthodontic treatment with a 3D collagen matrix.ResultsAn overall statistically significant decrease in root length from T0 to T1 for all groups was observed (P < .05). However, there was no significant difference among the groups in the amount of root length decrease from T0 to T1.ConclusionsOrthodontic treatment combined with piezocision does not increase the risk of root resorption of lower incisors and canines when compared with orthodontic treatment without acceleration techniques. More studies with larger samples should be undertaken to confirm these results.     

Improvement in smile esthetics following orthodontic treatment: A retrospective study utilizing standardized smile analysis

Objective:To quantify smile esthetics following orthodontic treatment and determine whether these changes are correlated to the severity of the initial malocclusion.Materials and Methods:A standardized smile mesh analysis that evaluated nine lip-tooth characteristics was applied to two groups of successfully treated patients: group 1 (initial American Board of Orthodontics Discrepancy Index [DI] score <20) and group 2 (initial DI score >20). T-tests were used to detect significant differences between the low-DI and high-DI groups for baseline pretreatment measurements, baseline posttreatment measurements, and changes from pre- to posttreatment. A Spearman correlation test compared the initial DI values with the changes in the nine smile measurements.Results:Five of the smile measurements were improved in both groups following orthodontic treatment. Both groups demonstrated improved incisor exposure, an improved gingival smile line, an increase in smile width, a decreased buccal corridor space, and an improvement in smile consonance. Spearman correlation tests showed that initial DI value was not correlated to changes in any of the individual smile measurements.Conclusions:Smile esthetics is improved by orthodontic treatment regardless of the initial severity of the malocclusion. In other words, patients with more complex orthodontic issues and their counterparts with minor malocclusions benefitted equally from treatment in terms of their smile esthetics.     

Malocclusion and treatment need in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease

Objective:To assess the prevalence of malocclusion and treatment need in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD).Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, the sample size comprised 35 five-year-old children and 36 adolescents of both sexes, aged between 12 to 18 years, with SCD. Dental occlusion was assessed using two indexes: the Malocclusion Index (World Health Organization) and the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).Results:The prevalence of malocclusion in the preschool children was 62.9%. The main malocclusions observed in this age group were Class II (37.1%), increased overjet (28.6%), reduced overbite (28.6%), and open bite (17.1%). In the 12- to 18-year-old subjects, the prevalence of malocclusion was 100%, and the most prevalent types of malocclusion were maxillary overjet (63.9%) and maxillary misalignment (58.3%). It is noteworthy that the majority of adolescents (80.6%) had very severe or disabling malocclusions.Conclusion:The results revealed a high prevalence of malocclusion in children and adolescents with SCD. According to DAI score, the majority of the sample presented with very severe malocclusion and a compulsory treatment need.     

Prospective evaluation of the psychosocial impact of the first 6 months of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance among young adults

Objective:To evaluate the psychosocial impact of the first 6 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance among young adults and compare the results with those of a control group of patients awaiting treatment for malocclusion.Materials and Methods:A study was conducted with a sample of 120 patients on a waiting list for orthodontic treatment at a university. The participants were allocated to an experimental group submitted to treatment and a control group awaiting treatment. The groups were matched for sex and age. All participants were instructed to answer the Brazilian version of the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) at baseline and after 6 months. Statistical analysis involved the Wilcoxon test for the total PIDAQ score and the score of each subscale. All patients participated until the end of the study.Results:Significant differences between baseline and the 6-month evaluation were found for the total PIDAQ score as well as the dental self-confidence and social impact subscales in both groups. No differences between baseline and the 6-month evaluation were found regarding the psychological impact or esthetic concern subscales in the control group. The patients in the experimental group reported greater esthetic impact 6 months after beginning treatment (P < .001). The first 6 months of orthodontic treatment seem to improve psychosocial impact.Conclusion:The first 6 months of orthodontic treatment seem to improve the psychosocial impact of malocclusion. The patients analyzed in the present study reported a greater esthetic impact and less psychological impact after 6 months of using an orthodontic appliance.     

Modifications in Class I and Class II Div. 1 malocclusion during orthodontic treatment and their association with TMD problems

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe changes in tooth movements of patients with Class I and Class II malocclusion during the first 6 months of orthodontic treatment and to investigate the relation between TMJ problems and these changes.

Methods: The sample was comprised of 63 individuals (20 control, 25 Class I malocclusion, 18 Class II Div. 1 malocclusion). Occlusion analysis was performed through T-Scan® record and chewing pattern examination before and after the 6-month period. The existence of TMD was evaluated using joint vibration analysis (JVA). Patients with malocclusion had active fixed orthodontic treatment.

Results: Disclusion time reduced in the patients group during the treatment period. No association was observed between the first 6-month period of the orthodontic treatment and TMD.

Discussion: It is suggested that occlusion analyses should be done before any orthodontic treatment, and disclusion time should be minimized as much as possible.