Prevalence of anterior and posterior crossbite in 13-17-year-old schoolchildren attending municipal public schools in the city of Campina Grande (PB)

Abstract

Introduction and objective: This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of anterior and posterior crossbite in 13-17-year-old schoolchildren. Material and methods: The probabilistic sample comprised the examination of 434 schoolchildren aged 13 to 17 years attending 12 teaching institutions in the city of Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Two calibrated researchers (Kappa = 0.88) collected data referring to gender, age, education level, family income and type of crossbite (anterior and posterior). Data were presented through absolute and percent frequencies. The inferential analysis used the chi-square test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Most students were attending elementary schools (85.3%), were aged 13 years (41.0%) and had a family income of 1 or less than 1 minimum wage (50.7%).Crossbite was observed in 28.1% of the students, with no statistically significant difference between genders (P = 0.445). Regarding the distribution according to the age, the highest crossbite frequency was verified among 13-year-old schoolchildren (39.3%), followed by 14-year-old (32.0%). There was no statistically significant difference between age and the presence of crossbite (P = 0.949). Regarding the type of crossbite, 45.9% presented unilateral posterior crossbite, while 34.4% presented anterior crossbite, with no statistically significant difference between genders (P = 0.360). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of crossbite, with predominance of unilateral posterior crossbite.