According to a recent report from hospital-based orthodontic specialists, one in eight teenagers with irregularly shaped teeth have experienced bullying. The bullying is said to have caused a negative influence on their self-esteem as well as on their quality of oral health.
The study unveils that the children with certain dental features, such as:
- maxillary overcrowding
- a cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate
- an overjet and a deep overbite
Children between ages 10 and 14 years old were at a high risk of being teased by their peers,
"Currently the severity and need for orthodontic treatment within the UK is judged on occlusal (bite) and aesthetic impairment without consideration of psychosocial factors," warn the authors of the BDJ report.
The British Dental Association's Scientific Adviser, Professor Damien Walmsley, mentioned in his comments to the report that:
"As studies show that having well-aligned teeth can influence our ability to make friends and progress in our careers, it's not surprising that young children pick up on society's ideal of what is perceived to be attractive early on.
Because prominent or irregular shaped teeth can affect a child's self-esteem, or make them the subject of teasing or bullying at school, it's important that these factors are taken into account when referrals for orthodontic treatment are considered."
Source: British Dental Journal, volume 210, No 9, May 14, 2011
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