The concept of preventive care in the pediatric population with risk factors for the malocclusion development and prevention of severe malocclusion in children aged 3-12 years old

Abstract

Relevance. Malocclusion prevention in Russian children is an urgent medical and social problem. The results of Russian epidemiological studies show malocclusion prevalence and severity increase in children with age. Postgrowth orthodontic treatment is costly and often inaccessible for the most population. In the current situation, malocclusion prevention organization in children is one of the most important tasks of public healthcare.Purpose. To propose and substantiate a new model for the prevention of severe malocclusion in children.Materials and methods. We have created a new conceptual model for the prevention of severe malocclusion in children to develop a methodology that provides unified approaches to malocclusion prevention.Results. The model involves the construction of a two-level system of pediatric preventive care based in the city, municipal multidisciplinary dental clinics. The model novelty is determined by the new concept of the primary prevention of malocclusion and early orthodontic treatment (EOT) processes to prevent severe malocclusion (secondary prevention) as a single system that provides a positive result in maxillofacial development in children. The introduction of a pediatric dentist as an operator and a coordinator of the prevention program implementation into the structure of preventive care for children's malocclusion determines the novelty of the prevention system conceptual model. The proposed conceptual model prioritizes an orthodontist who provides secondary prevention of severe malocclusion by early orthodontic treatment (EOT) to children during the growth and development of malocclusions. The introduction of a malocclusion assessment to identify the EOT need score also determines the novelty of the malocclusion secondary prevention subsystem. The model places a high value on the management function/ management issues. Severe malocclusion prevention program implementation in children requires changing the paradigm of doctors, namely, pediatric dentists and orthodontists.Conclusion. The presented concept of the two-level malocclusion prevention organization (primary prevention of malocclusion in toddlers and preschoolers and secondary prevention of severe malocclusion by EOT in children aged 3-12 years) will allow for the reduction of the number of severe malocclusions during dental and facial development and for the need of complex treatment at later stages, will contribute to children health preservation, their social adaptation and the child and family quality of life increase.