Prevalence and severity of malocclusion in adolescent Kuwaitis

Our aim was to evaluate prevalence and severity of malocclusion in an adolescent Kuwaiti population.

Using a stratified cluster sampling method and excluding non-Kuwaitis, subjects with mesial migration and/or loss of first molars, and subjects with orthodontic treatment experience without availability of initial study models, we examined 1,299 Kuwaitis (674 boys and 625 girls) of mean age 13.2 +/- 0.4 years in a regular well lit classroom. We scored molar and canine relationship, overjet, overbite, anterior and posterior cross bite as well as spacing and irregularity of the incisors using gloves, mirrors, rulers, and spatulas.

Fourteen, 15, and 71% met the criteria for almost ideal, mild, and moderate to severe malocclusion, respectively. Of the 86% with malocclusion, occurrence of class 1, half step class 2, full step class 2, half step class 3, and full step class 3 was 57.8, 24.9, 6.3, 8.8, and 2.2% for the first molars, and 36.1, 50.0, 6.2, 5.4, and 2.3% for the canines, respectively. Incisor malalignment was the most prevalent malocclusion trait (73.2%). Overjet > or = 9.5 mm occurred in less than 1.5%, open bite in less than 3.5%, deep bite with gingival contact in less than 2.0%, complete posterior cross bite in less than 1.5%, and complete anterior crossbite in less than 2.0%. Median diastema was present in about 2/3 of the cases with maxillary anterior spacing as opposed to only about 1/3 of those with mandibular spacing.

Our findings suggest that more than 70% of young adolescent Kuwaitis have moderate to severe malocclusion, with incisor malalignment as the most prevalent malocclusion trait.