Anteroposterior, vertical and space malocclusions in adolescents with special needs in Lagos, Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of malocclusion in adolescents with special needs and to compare the results with those of other authors.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 230 adolescents with special needs aged 12-17 years randomly selected from 5 special school/centres in Lagos. Occlusal anteroposterior relationships were assessed based on Angle classification.

Results: Normal occlusion was seen in 11.7%, Angle's class I malocclusion in 77.4%, class II malocclusion in 8.3% and class III malocclusion in 2.6%. Over 63% had normal overbites, and 6.5% and 12.5% had increased and reduced values, respectively. Overjet relationship was normal in 50%, increased in 25.7% and reduced in 6.5%. Crowding was observed in 29% of the subjects and midline diastema in 27%. Males had a significantly higher prevalence of midline diastema than females (p < 0.05). The intellectually impaired had significantly higher frequency of class II division 1 malocclusion and anterior openbite when compared with the other disabled groups.

Conclusion: Class I malocclusion is the most prevalent occlusal pattern among adolescents with special needs. Statistically significant differences in occlusal pattern were observed between the disabled groups.