Parental Perception Versus Orthodontic Assessment of Early Treatment Needs in Pediatric Patients

Introduction: Malocclusion is among the most common oral health problems in children, with potential effects on function, esthetics, and psychosocial well-being. Early orthodontic intervention can mitigate these consequences; however, parental awareness is critical in recognizing the need for treatment. This study aimed to compare parents’ perception of their children’s orthodontic treatment needs with professional assessment and to evaluate the prevalence of malocclusion in children.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 8–12 years and both of their parents attended the pedodontics clinic. Parents completed a 19-item questionnaire based on the esthetic component of the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN). Children were clinically examined by an orthodontist using IOTN and Angle’s classification. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v26 with Chi-square tests and correlation analysis. Associations between parental perception and professional assessment were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Effect sizes were calculated using Phi coefficient or Cramer’s V. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: The study included 298 children. The most prevalent malocclusion was Angle Class II (55%), followed by Class I (37.5%) and Class III (7.7%). More than half of the parents (51.3%) were unaware of early orthodontic treatment needs. A strong association was found between fathers’ education level and correct estimation of children’s dental appearance (p<0.001, Cramer’s V=0.555). Mothers with higher education were significantly more accurate in assessing malocclusion (p<0.001, Cramer’s V=0.515). Overall, parents’ ability to correctly identify their child’s malocclusion was limited.
Discussion and Conclusion: Parental awareness regarding children’s malocclusion and the need for early orthodontic treatment was insufficient. Professional evaluation revealed that Class II malocclusion was the most prevalent type. Educational interventions targeting parents may improve awareness and timely orthodontic care.

Keywords: Awareness; Early orthodontics; Malocclusion; Parents’ perception; Prevalence; Treatment need