IMPACT OF MALOCCLUSION ON THE ORAL HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF SCHOOL PUPILS IN ONDO TOWN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Objective

To assess the impact of malocclusion on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of school pupils.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among 400 school pupils aged 8–10 years in Ondo town, Ondo State, Nigeria. OHRQoL was assessed using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ 8–10) during pupil interviews, while malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need were measured using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with the level of statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.

Results

The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 9.12 ± 0.71 years. The study population included 202 (50.5%) males and 198 (49.5%) females. The prevalence of malocclusion by DAI was 30.5%. Of the participants, 278 (69.5%) had no or only slight need for orthodontic treatment (DAI score < 25), 104 (26.0%) required elective treatment (DAI score 25–30), and 18 (4.5%) had severe malocclusion requiring highly desirable/mandatory orthodontic treatment. Females showed a higher overall prevalence of malocclusion (32.3%), while severe malocclusion was more common among males (4.9%); these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.561). Children aged 9 years had the highest negative impact with a mean (±SD) CPQ score of 20.5 (±12.3), and age was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Malocclusion negatively affects the quality of life of school pupils in Ondo State. The prevalence of malocclusion in this study was 30.5%, with an overall mean CPQ of 19.5 ± 14.3. Females, 9-year-olds, and subjects with DAI scores of 31–35 experienced the highest negative impact of malocclusion. The most affected domains were social and emotional well-being.