Association between malocclusion and the contextual factors of quality of life and socioeconomic status

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine associations among malocclusion and the contextual factors of quality of life and socioeconomic status.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a population-based sample of 1256 children from 7 to 10 years old. Malocclusion was assessed clinically; oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was assessed using the Brazilian version of the child perceptions questionnaire; socioeconomic status was determined from data made available by the Research and Planning Institute of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Initially, bivariate analyses were performed; after this, starting with variables with P ≤0.20, multilevel multiple logistic regression models were estimated, in which the binomial distribution, function of the logistic connection, and criteria for remaining in the model at P ≤0.05 were considered.

Results: Of the children, 82.1% had some type of malocclusion. Increased age associated with low socioeconomic status was the determinant for occlusal problems. The determination of low OHRQoL appears to be associated with the socioeconomic status in the individual factors, and increased overjet appears to be associated with factors at the contextual level.

Conclusions: Socioeconomic status and age are risk factors for malocclusion. Of the malocclusions evaluated, increased overjet had the most negative influence on the OHRQoL.