Interdepartmental approach to early malocclusion management: A pediatric and orthodontic collaborative study

Malocclusion can result in temporomandibular joint dysfunction, impaired speech, impaired mastication, aberrant craniofacial development and psychosocial difficulties. Therefore, it is of interest to assess early malocclusion in 50 children ages 6 to 12. Children were monitored every 6-8 weeks and received preventive, interceptive, or observational care based on joint assessments. The findings revealed a 78% improvement in occlusion, along with high parental satisfaction (92%) and compliance (88%). A statistically significant improvement was noted (p < 0.05). Thus, cooperative early intervention can improve occlusal outcomes and lower the need for orthodontic treatment in the future.