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Early orthodontic treatment need in paediatric age: a prospective observational study in Italian school-children
E Carli1, E Fambrini1, L Lardani1
1Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa (Italy).
Insights
A study found a significant need for Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment (IOTN) in Italian children. Early intervention is crucial to prevent future malocclusion issues in adults.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Paediatric Dentistry
Background:
- Assessing the prevalence of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is vital for early intervention in paediatric dental care.
- Malocclusion can lead to complex dental issues if not addressed during childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) among school-children in Italy.
- To identify key indicators of IOTN in a paediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study involving 2,199 Italian school-children at their first dental visit.
- Data collected included age, gender, systemic pathologies, and specific orthodontic parameters like crossbite, habits, overjet, and space deficiency.
- Statistical analysis using the Chi-square test to determine significance (p < 0.05).
Main Results:
- The study identified a significant percentage of paediatric patients requiring Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment (IOTN).
- Specific indicators such as crossbite, detrimental oral habits, increased overjet, and space limitations were assessed.
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of the paediatric population exhibits Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).
- Early orthodontic intervention is strongly recommended to mitigate the long-term effects of malocclusion in adults.
- This highlights the importance of routine dental screenings for early detection of orthodontic issues.
Aim:
This study evaluates the prevalence of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) in Italian school-children.
Methods:
A prospective observational study was conducted to assess the prevalence of IOTN in patients undergoing a first visit at the Santa Chiara Hospital Paediatric Dentistry Unit in Pisa, Italy. Two thousand, one hundred ninetynine subjects met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study; data on age, gender and concomitant systemic pathologies were collected from medical records. All participants were examined for individual IOTN: the presence of anterior and/or unilateral/bilateral crossbite with or without midline deviation, bad habits (finger, sucking habits, mouth breathing, and tongue thrust), overjet > 3 mm, lack of space for 1.2 and 2.2 eruption were investigated. The presence of one of the above mentioned parameters was considered positive for IOTN. Chi-square test was used to evaluate any statistically significant difference (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The study confirms the presence of a significant percentage of paediatric patients who need IOTN; early treatment is highly recommended to reduce malocclusion outcomes in the adult population.
