The effect of gender on attitudes towards malocclusion and the perception of treatment needs among saudi children. | [Pakistan Oral and Dental Journal • 2003]

Author(s):

1. Hoda Ma Abdel Latif: Division of Community Dentistry, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O.Box-60169 Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia

Abstract:

To determine the effect of gender on attitudes towards malocclusion and the perception of treatment need among Saudi children. A cross-sectional epidemiologically study was carried out in a sample of 2156 pre-adolescent and adolescent Saudi subjects aged 9-17 years old. The present analysis was confined to 1456 subjects who had complete information. To measure the attitude toward malocclusion and the perception of treatment need, a questionnaire based on the orthodontic attitude survey was used. The findings revealed that 31% of the subjects were dissatisfied with their dental appearance with more males than females disliking the appearance of their teeth. Results indicated a positive attitude towards various aspects of orthodontic treatment such as braces’ appearance and tolerance with only 17% of the subjects having felt that orthodontic braces are ugly and 20% thought it could be quite painful, the rates were almost similar between males and females. While a high percentage of the subjects (92%)agreed that proper occlusion is important, only 69.4% of them agreed in the importance of correcting malocclusion. A slightly higher percentage of female subjects tended to regard correcting malocclusion as important as compared to male subjects. Almost 52% of the subjects indicated a perception of orthodontic treatment need. The majority of the subjects indicated a negative attitude towards malocclusion and showed a desire for orthodontic treatment mainly for aesthetic improvement.

Page(s): 39-44

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Pakistan Oral and Dental Journal, Volume: 23, Issue: 1, Year: 2003

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