# Attitude and Awareness of Dental Students Regarding Malocclusion and Orthodontic Treatment

## TL;DR

This study explores dental students' understanding and opinions about malocclusion and orthodontic treatment, finding they value dental aesthetics and recognize the benefits of orthodontics.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into dental students' attitudes and awareness about malocclusion and orthodontic treatment across different academic years.

## Key findings

- Most students (98%) value healthy, well-spaced teeth and are self-aware of their dental aesthetics.
- 89% believe straight teeth improve appearance, but only 12.5% gave orthodontic treatment a very positive response.
- Students across all academic years showed similar attitudes and understanding of malocclusion and orthodontics.

## Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research is to assess dentistry students' knowledge and perspective on malocclusion and orthodontic therapy.

Methods: The research group consisted of 240 undergraduate dentistry students in all. One hundred and sixty Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students from each of the four years of study were chosen for the study. Students were asked to fill out a standardized questionnaire to gather data for this research. To check for statistical differences, an analysis of variance was conducted between the groups. Using a chi-squared test with a significance threshold of p < 0.05, categorical variables were examined.

Results: The vast majority of participants (98%) valued healthy, well-spaced teeth and were self-aware when it came to their dental esthetics. As far as dental esthetics, 70% of participants were happy. Nearly 89% of those surveyed agreed having straight teeth would make them look better. When asked about their feelings about orthodontic treatment, 12.5% gave it a very good response.

Conclusion: Findings indicate that participants understood the impact of their teeth on their appearance and the potential benefits of orthodontic treatment. People who were treated with orthodontic braces felt good about it. All four years of BDS students fall within the same age range (17-25); hence, there was no discernible difference in their perspectives on malocclusion and orthodontic treatment, as well as their level of understanding and attitude toward these topics.