title: Prevalence of malocclusions, oral habits and orthodontic treatment need in a 7- to 15-year-old schoolchildren population in Tirana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of malocclusions, oral habits and the need for orthodontic treatment in a sample of 7- to 15-year-old Albanese schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  The final sample comprised 2,617 subjects (1,257 males and 1,360 females), all orthodontically untreated. Occlusal relationship and the functional analysis were recorded for all subjects. The prevalence rates for the dental health component of the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN) were calculated. Comparisons between genders were performed for the prevalence of malocclusions, oral habits and IOTN grades (chi-square tests).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Class I, class II and class III malocclusions and asymmetries were observed in 40.4%, 29.2%, 3.2% and 27.1% of the sample, respectively. There were 2,108 subjects (80.6%) that showed oral habits, with females (82.1%) presenting with a greater prevalence rate than males (78.9%). The objective need for orthodontic treatment (grades 4 and 5 of IOTN) was registered in 1,077 subjects (41.2%). This prevalence rate is higher than those reported for other European countries. No significant differences between genders were found for the IOTN grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the present study revealed the need to improve public health plans for orthodontic prevention and screening and to organise the resources in this area in Albania.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence (via del Ponte di Mezzo 46-48), Florence 50127, Italy. cmasucci@hotmail.it.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Laganà
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Masucci
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Fabi
authors: Patrizio
authors: P
authors: Bollero
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Cozza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D061326:Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000453:epidemiology; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000453:epidemiology; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000453:epidemiology; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000453:epidemiology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology