Malocclusion: social, functional and emotional influence on children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between types of malocclusion and quality of life in children between 8-10 years of age and establish correlations between the severity of the malocclusion and particular bio-psychosocial variables.


METHODS
The sample was made up of 102 schoolchildren aged 8-10 years. Clinical exams were performed using the criteria of the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) to determine the presence and severity of malocclusions. The impact on quality of life was assessed using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10). Statistical analysis involved the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's correlation analysis.


RESULTS
Malocclusions affected 61% of the children examined. There was a positive correlation between total CPQ8-10 and DAI scores (P = 0.034). The following types of malocclusion had a significant effect on the quality of life of the children: upper anterior irregularity > or = 2 mm, anterior open bite > or = 2 mm and diastema > or = 2 mm. Children with malocclusion experienced a greater negative impact on quality of life in comparison to those without malocclusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Malocclusions had a negative influence over the quality of life of children between 8-10 years of age. More severe malocclusions had a greater impact with regard to social, emotional and functional aspects.
Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri--UFVJM, Diamantina-MG, Brazil.
P A
PA
Martins-Júnior
L S
LS
Marques
M L
ML
Ramos-Jorge
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003970:Diastema; D004644:Emotions; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D024343:Open Bite / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology