Prevalence of malocclusion and common occlusal traits among adolescent school children in Dakahliya, Egypt and Makkah, Saudi Arabia (A comparative study)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion among adolescent school students in Dakahliya Governorate, Egypt and compare it to a similar group in Makkah Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, explore the possibility of the presence of significant difference between different population for the various occlusal traits assessed. Materials and Methods: Descriptive study with stratified cluster random sample of 627 male adolescents, with age range (14-17) years, selected from 21 schools in the Dakahliya Governorate, Egypt and Makkah, Saudi Arabia to assess and compare the status of occlusion. Occlusal traits assessed were; malocclusion types, crowding, diastema, cross bite, overjet and overbite.Results and Conclusion: This study revealed predominance of Angle Class I (67.1% in Saudis, 65.4% Egyptians), followed by Class II (div1) (14.5%, 18.6%), then Class II (div2) (10.7%, 8.6%). Class III showed the least prevalence (7.6%, 7.4%) for Saudis and Egyptians respectively. The most prevalent malocclusion trait was crowding (63.3% in Saudis,57.7% in Egyptians). Increased overjet was higher among Egyptians. Decreased overjet was higher among Saudis. Increased overbite was more prevalent in Egyptians while decreased overbite was more prevalent in Saudis. Anterior and posterior crossbite showed more prevalence among Saudi adolescents. where diastema was more prevalent among Egyptians. Statistically significant difference was found between Saudi and Egyptian male adolescents in all the studied occlusal traits.