Perception of and Attitudes on Malocclusion: A Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to review published evidence on the perception of and attitude on malocclusion and to examine existing assessment tools and influencing factors. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases, as well as electronic archives of the European Journal of Orthodontics, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, and Angle Orthodontist, were searched to collect articles that compared perception differences between dental professionals and laypeople. Articles that investi- gated perceptions of dental professionals were excluded. Results: The literature search identified 94 articles. A total of 31 suitable studies from 1970 to 2019 were finally considered in the review. Moreover, 65% of the reviewed studies used the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) as a tool to determine perception of malocclusion; 29% of the studies were conducted in Europe, while only 9.6% were conducted in south and southeastern Asia. In addition, 25.8% of included studies investigated adult and adolescent subjects. Age and gender were the factors that most influenced perception of malocclusion. Conclusion: The Aesthetic Component-IOTN is an effective tool to assess perception of malocclusion. However, modification or combination of indexes might help obtain better results. Gender and age were significant factors influencing perception of malocclusion