Caries prevalence in children: implications for orthodontic treatment need?

OBJECTIVES: In the present sectional study with primary school children we investigated the connection between caries prevalence, prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need.

METHODS: A total of 422 children aged 5 to 12 were included. The investigation covered: number of teeth (1. and 2. dentition), caries prevalence (df-t and DF-T), malocclusion in the form of falsely toothed antagonist pairs of lasting teeth (Reinhardt-Index) and the need for orthodontic treatment.

RESULTS: The number of decayed teeth showed a slight increase in both dentitions. In comparison, boys showed a significantly higher df-t value than girls, whereas DF-T values were almost identical. A high amount of falsely toothed antagonist pairs with corresponding orthodontic treatment need (>60 %) was recognizable. Dividing the collective into children with no caries and children with at least one lesion, especially boys over 10 years with caries revealed a significant higher frequency of falsely toothed teeth as well as a corresponding orthodontic treatment need.

CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, boys over 10 years with malocclusion could be identified as a risk group for caries. This study highlights the correlation between caries and malocclusion prevalence and underlines the need for respective interdisciplinary screening and treatment.