Assessment of self-perceived malocclusion and barriers to orthodontic treatment: A cross-sectional study

CONTEXT: Malocclusion is a common dental issue that can lead to significant oral health problems. However, patient management and treatment options for malocclusion can vary, and there is a lack of information regarding self-perception and barriers to orthodontic care.

AIMS: This study aimed to assess the self-perception of malocclusion and explore barriers to orthodontic care among residents of Bandar Saujana Putra in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study through the use of a validated questionnaire was distributed to the residents of Bandar Saujana Putra. Responses were collected from June 2021 to February 2022 via both online (Google Forms) and physical forms.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: The questionnaire consists of four sections, which assessed the respondents' demographics, understanding and awareness toward malocclusion, and barriers to orthodontic care.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Responses were analyzed using the Pearson Chi-square test with IBM SPSS version 26.

RESULTS: A total of 231 responses were collected from 83 (35.9%) males and 148 (64.1%) females. Females had a significantly higher level of awareness and knowledge regarding malocclusion compared to males (P < 0.05). The majority of the female respondents (83.8%) agreed that malocclusion can lead to dental caries (P = 0.02) and 60.8% of them identified "unpleasant appearance" as the main barrier to orthodontic treatment (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that clear braces could be a viable alternative for patients who are concerned with their appearance and may be a solution to the barrier of "unpleasant appearance." Our study contributes to the existing literature on malocclusion and barriers to orthodontic care in Malaysia.