Objective: To assess the need for orthodontic treatment among children and adolescents in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an ecologically challenging region, and to identify the distribution of malocclusion severity.

Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted on a sample of 1200 schoolchildren aged 12 to 15 years from various districts of Karakalpakstan. The need for orthodontic treatment was evaluated using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), which consists of the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC). Clinical examinations were performed by calibrated examiners. Data on demographic characteristics were also collected.

Results: The results indicated a high level of need for orthodontic treatment. According to the DHC of the IOTN, 45.8% of the examined children were classified as having a definite need for treatment (grades 4 and 5), 35.2% had a borderline need (grade 3), and only 19.0% had little to no need (grades 1 and 2). The most common occlusal traits leading to a high DHC score were increased overjet, crossbites, and severe crowding. The AC assessment revealed that 38.5% of children were dissatisfied with their dental appearance (scores 8-10).

Conclusion: There is a substantial objective and subjective need for orthodontic care among children and adolescents in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. These findings highlight the necessity for developing and implementing a regional public health program focused on orthodontic screening, prevention, and accessible treatment to address the high prevalence of malocclusion in this vulnerable population.

orthodontic treatment need, IOTN, malocclusion, prevalence, Karakalpakstan, adolescents, public health, epidemiology.

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