Search

Malocclusion is one of the three most common oral diseases reported by World Health Organization(WHO). In China, its incidence rate is rising. Malocclusion seriously affects the dental and maxillofacial function, facial appearance and growth development of nearly 260 million children in China, and what is more, it affects their physical and mental health development. Malocclusion occurrence is related to genetic and environmental factors. Early treatment of malocclusion can create a good dental and maxillofacial development environment, correct abnormal growth and control the adverse effects of abnormal genetic factors. It can effectively reduce the prevalence of children's malocclusion and enhance their physical and mental health. This is an urgent need from the economic perspective of our society, so it has great practical and social significance. Experts from the project group "standard diagnose and treatment protocols for early orthodontic intervention of malocclusions of children" which initiated by China National Health Institute of Hospital Administration wrote the "China Experts' Consensus on Preventive and Interceptive Orthodontic Treatments of Malocclusions of Children", which aims to guide and popularize the clinical practice, improve the clinical theory and practice level, and accelerate the disciplinary development of early treatment of children's malocclusion in China. The consensus elaborates the harmfulness of malocclusion and the necessity of early treatment, and brings up the principles and fundamental contents. Based on the law of dental and maxillofacial development, this paper puts forward the guiding suggestions of preventive and interceptive treatments in different stages of dental development ranging from fetus to early permanent dentition. It is a systematic project to promote and standardize the early treatment of malocclusion. Through scientific and comprehensive stratified clinical practice and professional training, the clinical system of early treatment of malocclusion in China will eventually be perfected, so as to comprehensively care for children's dental and maxillofacial health, and improve their oral and physical health in China.

Based on a literature review and recent surveys, the needs and implementation of preventive dentistry in China have been estimated. The average DMFT of 12- and 15-yr-old schoolchildren in Beijing were 1.61 and 2.11 respectively. The caries prevalence was higher in the coastal cities in the south. The caries rate was also higher in urban areas than in rural areas. There were some controversies in the results of fluoridation studies with one study reporting as high as 47.2% of the children to be afflicted with enamel fluorosis. The community periodontal disease status and treatment needs index (CPTNI) showed that 93% of the 12-yr-olds had bleeding, 98% had calculus and 15% had shallow pockets, with 100% of the children needing prophylaxis. There was a high prevalence of dental malocclusion with 54% of schoolchildren with dental anomalies, of whom 36% needed treatment. Much emphasis had been placed on oral pathology, oral medicine and maxillofacial surgery in the curriculum of Stomatology in Chinese dental schools.