engleski

History of orthodontic treatment, treatment needs and influencing factors in adolescents in Croatia

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the orthodontic treatment needs of adolescents, the schoolchildren, in Zagreb, Croatia, in relation to their orthodontic treatment history, caries experience and socio-demographic parameters. Methods: The subjects of the study sample comprised 1, 289 schoolchildren from 12 randomly selected public schools in Zagreb, Croatia. The subjects were 15 – 18 years old (mean age 16.3±1.4), and 51% of them were girls. Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), namely the sum of the numbers of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT index), and a questionnaire (covering socio-demographic issues, oral health-related attitudes and behaviours) were employed in this study. The data was analysed by means of Chi- square test, analysis of variance, and multiple logistic regression models. Results: DMFT score was higher in schoolchildren with no orthodontic history (5.2 ± 3.7) than in those who were under orthodontic treatment at the time of the research (4.5 ± 3.2 ; p=0.043). More than 60% of the schoolchildren were never under orthodontic treatment, around 24% were previously under treatment, and 15% were under treatment at the time of the research. Overall, 85% of the schoolchildren’s’ orthodontic appliances were removable, and the girls were more often under orthodontic treatment. One fifth of the studied population had severe or very severe malocclusion. Girls were more often undergoing orthodontic treatment. Schoolchildren with previous orthodontic treatment more often wished for better teeth alignment, changes in their teeth positioning and for continuing orthodontic treatment. Multiple logistic regression model demonstrated that previously treated schoolchildren in comparison to their untreated peers, were on average older (p=0.002), less satisfied with the appearance of their teeth (p=0.001), and had higher malocclusion severity (p=0.046), fewer caries teeth (<0.001), the habit of changing toothbrushes more often (0.012), and mothers with higher educational degrees (<0.001). Conclusions: Although many schoolchildren received orthodontic treatment, the severity of their malocclusion was still somewhat high, and they were more often dissatisfied with their treatment outcome. The caries experience increased in comparison to the Croatian national survey data from 1999. Mothers’ educational degree was found to be the most important socio- demographic predictor in children’s dental health.

malocclusion ; caries ; dental public health ; orthodontic treatment need ; orthodontic treatment history ; socio-demographic characteristics

Potpora istraživanju PREDIKTIVNI ČIMBENICI USPJEHA ORTODONTSKE TERAPIJE U DJECE I ADOLESCENATA (13.06.2.1.53) financirano od strane Sveučilišta u Rijeci