Background: To analyze the prevalence, type and severity of malocclusions in a group of patients with cerebral palsy (CP) using a facial and occlusal analysis and the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).
Methods: A prospective, case-control study was made of two groups, a cerebral palsy and a control group, with the determination of the facial and occlusion analysis in the three spatial planes. The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) was used to assess the severity of malocclusion.
Results: The patients with CP presented a higher prevalence of increased facial lower third height and a greater tendency towards right-side canine and molar class II malocclusion, narrower transverse relationship and crossbite. The DAI scores were statistically significantly higher in the CP group. Increased physical impairment in the CP group was associated to greater DAI scores.
Conclusions: The prevalence and severity of malocclusion were significantly greater in the CP group. The type of malocclusion predominantly found in these patients was molar class II, with open bite, increased overjet and a narrow arch. The CP group also presented mixed breathing with higher DAI scores and decreased facial lower third height.
Keywords: DAI; cerebral palsy; dental aesthetic index; malocclusion.