Prevalence of Malocclusion Among Medical Students in Institute of Medicine, Nepal: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Introduction: Malocclusion is a malrelationship between the arches in any of the planes or in which there are anomalies in tooth position beyond the normal limits. The epidemiological data has a key role in planning which varies among different countries, ethnic groups and age groups. Aims and objective: To find out the prevalence of malocclusion among medical students of IOM. Materials and method: Quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study among MBBS students of Maharajgunj Medical Campus from first year to final year was done; participating voluntarily. A standard format was prepared to record the data. Result: Normal occlusion was found to be in 9.6%. The prevalence of Class I, Class II and Class III malocclusion were 44.09 %, 30.1 % and 16.12 % respectively. The various occlusal traits included increased overjet (12.9 %), increased overbite (26.9 %), scissor bite (3.2 %), posterior crossbite (18.3 %), spacing (12.9 %), Crowding (51.5 %), missing teeth (18.3 %). Conclusion: The prevalence of normal occlusion is 9.6% and malocclusion is found to be 90.4%. Class I malocclusion is most prevalent followed by Class II malocclusion and the Class III malocclusion.