Estudo epidemiológico de prevalência de más oclusões na Clínica Universitária da FMD-VISEU-UCP

Abstract

Introduction: Epidemiological studies play an essential role in determining the magnitude of health problems, providing indispensable data, and generating and analyzing hypotheses of associations, if any. This information enables the definition of strategies and the development of health plans. Dentists have a fundamental role in identifying, diagnosing, and treating these anomalies, as data on the prevalence of malocclusions and parafunctional habits are relevant in planning excellent orthodontic services. Objectives: The primary objective of the present study is to epidemiologically characterize the prevalence of Class I, II, and III malocclusions at the University Dental Clinic of UCP-Viseu during the academic years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. Materials and Methods: This study includes 49 patients, users of the University Dental Clinic of UCP-Viseu, identified with various types of malocclusions during the period between 2021 and 2023. Data collection was carried out through the consultation of clinical records, analyzing data such as Class I, II, and III malocclusions; other malocclusions like open bites, crossbites, overbite, and overjet; parafunctional habits; mouth breathing; age; gender; breastfeeding; and bruxism. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS. Results: A prevalence of Class I and II malocclusions was observed in 38.8% (n=19) of the cases, with 6.1% representing Class II Division 2. Class III malocclusions showed a prevalence of 22.4% (n=11). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal notable differences compared to the global averages reported for the prevalences of Class I, II, and III malocclusions. These differences may be influenced by various factors, including genetic, environmental, methodological, and demographic variations.

Date of Award	18 Jul 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Susana Falardo (Supervisor) & Ana Rita Carvalho (Co-Supervisor)