[Health relevance of malocclusions and their treatment]

Malocclusions are among the most common human diseases impairing oral health. The present paper gives an overview on their etiology, prevalence, and consequences. It further presents the corrective and preventive potential of orthodontic treatment and gives information on the treatment-associated legal framework in Germany. The use and quality of the orthodontic health service will be described in the international context.The etiology of malocclusions has genetic, epigenetic, functional, and environmental components, which can seldomly be differentiated on the individual level. Previous small, cross-sectional studies show that up to 80% of children in Germany are affected. Eating, drinking, chewing, speaking, and breathing may be impaired and the predisposition for periodontal disease and overuse injuries of the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory musculature increase. A proclination of the upper incisors increases the risk for dental trauma. Furthermore, malocclusions may have negative psychosocial effects and impair quality of life. In cooperation with other dental and/or medical disciplines, orthodontics make positive preventive and curative contributions to oral health, general health, and quality of life.Against this background, orthodontics has a substantial potential for the enhancement of dental prevention in healthcare. This is especially true as the German social health insurance (GKV) allows for a widespread orthodontic treatment coverage of the population at an internationally accepted, high-quality level. To further improve prevention, the implementation of a systematic orthodontic screening at the age of 7-8 years in the form of a systematic preventive measure is recommended.