The epidemiology of malocclusion in Zambian urban school children

Abstract

This survey was undertaken to determine the occlusal status of a selected group of urban Zambian Black 9-12 year old children at 5 different schools in the same geographical area in order to determine their need for orthodontic treatment. The examination criteria of the Occlusal Index of Summers (1966) were used. Six hundred and one children who had not previously received orthodontic treatment were examined. The data were analysed statistically by using the calculated Summers Index. The results showed that 83 per cent of the subjects required no orthodontic treatment. Of the 17 per cent who did require orthodontic treatment, 5.2 per cent needed specialized treatment. The malocclusion status of Black Zambian children is very similar to that recorded in epidemiological studies on South African and Swazi Black children. This study indicates that only a small need exists for orthodontic treatment amongst Black Zambian children.