Pattern of Dental Malocclusion in Orthodontic Patients in Rwanda: a Retrospective Hospital Based Study

RESUME Goyal Sandeep 1,*, Goyal Sonia 2 1 Orthodontist, Dental Department, King Faisal Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda 2 Stomatologist, Polyclinique La Medicale, Kigali, Rwanda Background: Dental malocclusion is present in all societies but its prevalence varies. Identifying occlusal problems, their incidence and the need for treatment can help to determine the appropriate awareness plans, preventive and interceptive treatment and manpower needed in orthodontics. There is no study of such kind to evaluate the pattern of malocclusion in Rwandese population. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze and to provide quantitative information on the pattern of dental malocclusion among orthodontic population in Rwanda. Methods: Various parameters retrieved from patients’ records of 243 selected patients with dental malocclusion who visited Dental Department of King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda, during the period of January 2009 to July 2012 were analyzed in this retrospective study. Chi-square test was used to find the gender difference at p < 0.05. Results: Angle’s Class I malocclusion was found to be the most common malocclusion with 60.9 % followed by 28.8 % Angle’s class II and 10.3 % Angle’s class III. Increased crowding (71.2 %) was the most common problem, followed by increased overjet, deep bite and anterior open bite in that order. No significant gender differences were found except in deep bite. Conclusion: The results give a pattern of malocclusion in orthodontic patients and may provide a base line data for planning awareness programs, preventive and interceptive orthodontic services & the future studies. There is a strong need of multicentric, epidemiological survey to find out the prevalence & causes of malocclusion in Rwandese population.