Esthetic Impact of Malocclusions in the Anterior Segment on Children in the Mixed Dentition

Introduction: To assess the esthetic subjective effect of malocclusions in the anterior segment on children in the mixed dentition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a population-based sample of 787 children aged 8-10 years in the late mixed dentition (n = 787). Orthodontic Aesthetic Subjective Impact Score determined the esthetic subjective effect. For assessing the malocclusions in the anterior segment (anterior crowding, anterior spacing, diastema, anterior open bite, and anterior maxillary overjet), the following Dental Aesthetic Index criteria were used. Sex, family income, and education level were used as control variables. The variables were analyzed using a simple logistic regression model, estimating crude odds ratios. The variables with P <0.20 in the simple analyses were tested in multiple regression models, estimating adjusted odds ratios with the respective 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Increased overjet was 1.54 (95% CI: 1.08-2.17) times more likely to cause greater esthetic concern (P <0.05), especially in girls (P <0.05).

Conclusions: Increased overjet negatively affected children's esthetic self-perception in the mixed dentition.