Prevalence of malocclusion in public school students of the Manaus, AM - Brazil

Objectives: study occlusion conditions of the public school childrens (7 to 11 years) in Manaus, Amazonas, and determine possible gender differences. Methods: There were examined a total of 957 students, independently of gender or race, with ages ranging from 7 to 11 years old, from 6 schools. Results: The results have shown that 630 had malocclusion out of 957 students, resulting in a percentage of 66%. To normal occlusion students, this percentage was 34%. There was no significant difference between genders regarding to malocclusion, i.e., the malocclusion among boys (70%) was statistically similar to the percentage found in girls (63%). Approximately half of the students with permanent teeth have been classified as Class II, corresponding to 48% of the students with malocclusion. Conclusion: it is very clear the high malloclusion prevalence in this study, that showed the importance of the Health Departament to bring