Association between maternal education and malocclusion in Mongolian adolescents: a cross-sectional study.
Malocclusion is a highly prevalent condition, affecting 20-60% of adolescents worldwide. Although its treatment is often expensive and unaffordable for disadvantaged individuals, few studies have examined the relationship between malocclusion and socioeconomic status. We investigated the prevalence of malocclusion among Mongolian adolescents and its association with maternal education in a community-based sample in Mongolia.



Cross-sectional study.



2 large secondary schools with different backgrounds in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.



Complete dental casts of 557 randomly recruited Mongolian schoolchildren aged 11-16 years were evaluated using the Dental Health Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need to dichotomise orthodontic treatment requirements. Exclusion criteria were the presence of orthodontic treatment history and absence of maternal educational status. Questionnaires were administered to caregivers to assess socioeconomic status. Poisson regression analysis was performed to examine the association between malocclusion and maternal educational status.



The prevalence of malocclusion requiring orthodontic treatment among all adolescents was 35.2% (95% CI 31.2 to 39.2). In the unadjusted analysis, the prevalence ratio (PR) for malocclusion was higher (PR=1.46; 95% CI 0.96 to 2.20) among adolescents of mothers with a high educational background than among those of mothers with a low educational background. After adjusting for covariates, the PR remained significantly higher (PR=1.72; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.82) among adolescents of mothers with a high educational background. Other socioeconomic status variables, including family income and the educational level of the father, showed no association with malocclusion.



These findings suggest that malocclusion requiring orthodontic treatment in adolescents is more prevalent among children of mothers with high levels of education. Further studies are needed to clarify the behavioural factors and environmental circumstance that contribute to this.
Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Tsasan
T
Tumurkhuu
Department of Global Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.|Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
Takeo
T
Fujiwara
Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yuko
Y
Komazaki
Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoko
Y
Kawaguchi
Department of Human Genetics and Disease Diversity, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Bioresource Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Toshihiro
0000-0001-6201-9784
T
Tanaka
Department of Molecular Cytogenetics, Medical Research Institute, Bioresource Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Johji
J
Inazawa
Department of Prosthodontics and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Ganjargal
G
Ganburged
Section of Research and Development, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Amarsaikhan
A
Bazar
Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Takuya
T
Ogawa
Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Keiji
K
Moriyama
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D009909:Oral Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Index of orthodontic treatment need; Malocclusion; Mongolian; maternal education; oral health; socioeconomic status