MALOCCLUSION PREVALENCE IN A NORTH PHILADELPHIA ORTHODONTIC POPULATION

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to examine malocclusion traits of a racially diverse population to determine the validity of the malocclusion prevalence reported in the NHANES III survey. Additionally, the cephalometric database from the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation Legacy Collection (AAOF-LC) was used for skeletal malocclusion prevalence. The sample used data collected at the Temple University orthodontic screening clinic (TUKSoD) from 2012-2020.Methods: Malocclusion prevalence of the TUKSoD population (n=7713) was compared to the NHANES III (n=7000) and AAOF-LC (n=1198) for dental and skeletal traits respectively. The TUKSoD population is 51.5% Black, 38% Hispanic, 2.7% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% American-Indian, and 1.1% other; age range 6-78 (mean 21.05±10.47), 60.4% females/39.6% males. The AAOF-LC is comprised primarily of Caucasian patients; age range 1-47, 48% females/52% males. The NHANES III survey included Black, Caucasian, and Mexican-American participants, with results weighted to represent American population demographics. Traits were compared in the transverse (dental), vertical (dental/skeletal), and sagittal (dental/skeletal) planes. Prevalence was recorded as percentage of the total population. Results: Significant differences were found for all dental comparisons: Sagittal (Class-I,II,III; p=8.59E-7), Vertical (Open-bite/Deep-bite; p=1.53E-13), and Transverse (crossbites). Significant differences were found for all skeletal comparisons: Sagittal (Class-I,II,III; p=5.38E-6), and Vertical (Open-bite/Deep-bite; p=8.89E-5). Conclusion: TUKSoD serves a diverse patient population which has significantly different skeletal and dental malocclusion prevalence compared to the control populations. These differences are likely the result of the genetic influences underlying the demographics. As the NHANES III and AAOF-LC represent common standards, comparison to genetically heterogenous contemporary populations is challenging, underscoring the need for more personalized approaches to determining malocclusion demographic characteristics.