Correlation of dental aesthetic index and oral aesthetic subjective impact scale among 12 and 15 years school going children of Lucknow city- A cross- sectional study

Malocclusion is one of the most common dental problems in mankind. Malocclusion can also impair dento-facial aesthetics, difficulty in mastication, swallowing, speech and also affects quality of life by affecting function, appearance, interpersonal relationships, socializing, self-esteem and psychological well-being. Aim: To assess the correlation of Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and Oral Aesthetic Subjective Impact Score (OASIS) in 12 and 15 years school going children of Lucknow city. Materials and Method: The present study was cross-sectional study, among 12 and 15 years age group with a sample of 310. Information was collected regarding socio-demographic factors, Dental Aesthetic Index (WHO Oral Assessment Form 1997) was used to assess the prevalence and severity of malocclusion and Oral Aesthetics Subjective Impact Score (OASIS) questionnaire was used to evaluate the self perceived dental appearance. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Among 310 students, 148 were males and 162 were females. The prevalence of malocclusion (DAI score >25) among the study population was 22.3%. A statistically significant association was found between DAI and poorer oral aesthetics self perception in multivariate analysis was observed. Conclusion: The present study yielded a significant association between malocclusion and OASIS as students with definite, severe or handicapped malocclusion may have negative impact on their social and affective interactions.