Abstract
Background
self-perception data on oral health are important for comprehensive patient’s assessment.
Objective
to investigate the relationship between parents/caregivers’ perceptons on the need of orthodontic treatment in 12-year-old schoolchildren of public schools of Juiz de for a, and associated factors, including access to oral health services.
Method
cross-sectional study (n=311). Parents/caregivers answered questions about their perceptions on the need of orthodontic treatment in schoolchildren, socioeconomic level, head of familiy’s education level, and access to oral health services. Schoolchildren’s normative orthodontic treatment need was assessed tbased on the Dental Aesthetic Index. Schoolchildren also provided their perceptions on the need of orthodontic treatment. Pearson Chi-square, Fisher Exact test or Linear by Linear Association were used for statistical analysis, in addition to logistic regression with significance level p<0.05.
Results
normative orthodontic treatment need (p=0.001) and the schoolchildren’s perception on their orthodontic treatment need (p<0.001) were statistically associated with parents/caregivers perceptions regarding orthodontic treatment need.
Conclusion
Parents/caregivers and children’s perceptions on the need of orthodontic treatment were significantly greater than children’s normative orthodontic treatment need.
Keywords:
malocclusion; orthodontics; parents; perception; schoolchildren