Orthodontic Awareness, Oral Self-Care, and Social Impact in Malocclusion: A Clinic-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Bhara Kahu

Résumé

Background: Oral Hygiene is important for overall health, and especially it is important for those patients who are suffering from malocclusion. Poor oral hygiene can cause several issues like infections, dental plague and affect overall health. Practicing toothbrushing, Fluoride toothpaste, interdental brushes, flossing, mouthwash, regular visits to dentists, and education can lead to the maintenance of good oral hygiene in malocclusion patients. Methods: This study was observational. Data were collected from Tariq Dental Clinic and Bashir Dental Hospital, Bhara Kahu, Islamabad. This study was conducted from August 2024 to November 2024. A random selection of 100 patients was used, using a pre-structured questionnaire with the help of a previous study.  Results: The result of this study included a total of 100 patients, 69 male and 31 female. Distribution of patients according to their age and gender. 97% of patients clean their teeth. 93% use a toothbrush or toothpaste for brushing, 7% use Datun, finger and charcoal powder. Among all, 74% cleaned their tongue. 46% of respondents brush their teeth twice a day, 42% once a day, and 6% do not brush their teeth frequently. 34% use dental floss, 23% use wooden toothpicks and 18% use interdental brushes. 75% of the participants do not use tobacco. About 84% of participants heard about the Malalignment of teeth. Of the respondents, 74% were happy with the way their teeth looked, while 26% weren't.  16% of patients were not bullied due to malocclusion. 81% are aware of how malocclusion negatively affects the oral cavity, and 83% of people know that the alignment of teeth would affect their mastication. 76% think malalignment is caused due to external habits.  After learning about the negative consequences of malocclusion, about 86% of the patients desired to have it corrected.  Class I sagittal molar occlusion was found in 44% of the sample, while Class II and Class III were found in 40% and 16% of the sample, respectively. Conclusion: Most patients clean their teeth, using a toothbrush and clean their tongue, and most of them brush at least twice daily. Other cleaning tools or materials are an interdental brush, mouthwash and dental floss used daily. Most of the patients were aware of malocclusion, and they corrected its ill effects.