Evaluation of the prevalence of malocclusion in individuals applying for orthodontic treatment in the Turkish community: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different types of dental and skeletal malocclusions among individuals seeking orthodontic treatment and to evaluate the relationship between these classifications. Methodology: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 5160 individuals (3096 females and 2064 males) who presented for orthodontic consultation and had complete clinical records, including intraoral examinations and lateral cephalometric radiographs. Dental malocclusions were classified according to Angle’s classification system (Class I, II, and III) based on molar relationships. Skeletal malocclusions were determined using ANB angle measurements obtained from cephalometric analyses, with standard values used to categorize patients into skeletal Class I, II, or III groups. Results: Class II (63.6%) was the most common dental malocclusion, Class I (18.4%) and Class III (18.0%) were less common. In terms of skeletal classification, Class II (50.0%) was the most common, followed by Class I (30.4%) and Class III (19.5%). Malocclusion distributions differed significantly by sex (dental: p = 0.007; skeletal: p < 0.001), although the effect sizes were negligible. There was a moderate positive correlation between the dental and skeletal classifications (rho=0.401, p<0.001). Conclusion: Class II malocclusion was the most prevalent in both dental and skeletal classifications. The relatively similar rates of Class I and Class III in dental classification highlight the need for careful diagnostic assessment. The moderate correlation between dental and skeletal classifications emphasizes the importance of combining occlusal and cephalometric evaluations to inform individualized treatment planning.