Assessment of the correlation between malocclusion and bullying in children and adolescents: A scoping review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i9.49516Keywords:
Bullying, Malocclusion, Dentofacial features, Self-reported bullying, Orthodontic interventions.Abstract
Bullying is a significant social issue that affects individuals' psychosocial dimensions, often linked to physical characteristics, including dentofacial traits such as malocclusion. The objective of this scoping review is to investigate and understand the association between the presence of malocclusion and bullying among children and adolescents, exploring the impact of this relationship on social dynamics and on the quality of life of the affected individuals. Research was conducted using the PubMed, Livivo, Scielo, and BVS databases, as well as Google Scholar, without restrictions on language or date. The study selection followed the PCC strategy (Population, Concept, and Context), focusing on children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years with dental malocclusion, the relationship between malocclusion and bullying (physical, verbal, psychological, and social), and varied social environments.A total of 1171 articles were identified, of which seven met the eligibility criteria. Participants were aged between 7 and 17 years, and data on malocclusion and bullying experiences were obtained through evaluations and questionnaires. Associations between bullying and malocclusion were stronger in severe cases, particularly related to maxillary overjet. Despite methodological discrepancies among studies, the results suggest that certain types of malocclusion may be more associated with bullying. However, further studies are needed to deepen the understanding and establish this relationship.
References
Abutayyem, H. M. M. S. (2016). Psychosocial impacts of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment in adolescent patients (Doctoral dissertation, University College London, Eastman Dental Institute). University College London. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322198199
Agel, M., Marcenes, W., Stansfeld, S. A., & Bernabé, E. (2014). School bullying and traumatic dental injuries in East London adolescents. British Dental Journal, 217(12), E26. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.1123
Bauss, O., & Vassis, S. (2023). Prevalence of bullying in orthodontic patients and its impact on the desire for orthodontic therapy, treatment motivation, and expectations of treatment. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 84(2), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-021-00343-w
Borzabadi-Farahani, A. (2012). A review of the evidence supporting the aesthetic orthodontic treatment need indices. Em Progress in Orthodontics, 13(3), 304–313). Elsevier Masson s.r.l. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pio.2012.03.003
Boulton N, M. J., & Underwood, K. (1992). Bully/victim problems among middle school children. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 62(1), 73–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8279.1992.tb01000.x
Broutin, A., Blanchet, I., Canceill, T., & Noirrit-Esclassan, E. (2023). Association between Dentofacial Features and Bullying from Childhood to Adulthood: A Systematic Review. Em Children (Vol. 10, Número 6). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10060934
De Ridder, L., Aleksieva, A., Willems, G., Declerck, D., & de Llano-Pérula, M. C. (2022). Prevalence of Orthodontic Malocclusions in Healthy Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Em International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(12). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127446
DiBiase, A., Cox, Z., Rea, M., Gonidis, L., Cameron, L., & Rutland, A. (2024). Prevalence and nature of bullying in schoolchildren aged 10–14 years and its association with malocclusion: A cross-sectional study in the South East of the UK. Journal of Orthodontics. https://doi.org/10.1177/14653125241235677
Eslamipour, F., Afshari, Z., & Najimi, A. (2018). Prevalence of malocclusion in permanent dentition of Iranian population: A review article. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 47(2), 178–187. Retrieved from http://ijph.tums.ac.ir
Gatto, R. C. J., Garbin, A. J. Í., Corrente, J. E., & Garbin, C. A. S. (2019). The relationship between oral health-related quality of life, the need for orthodontic treatment and bullying, among Brazilian teenagers. Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics, 24(2), 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-6709.24.2.073-080.oar
Morales-Salazar, S. A., Monteagudo-Sangama, J. M., & Arriola-Guillén, L. E. (2022). Influence of dentofacial characteristics on the appearance of self-reported bullying: A review. Em Dental and Medical Problems, 59(4), 657–661). Wroclaw University of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.17219/dmp/138636
Olweus, D. (1994). Bullying at school: Basic facts and effects of a school-based intervention program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35(7), 1171–1190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1994.tb01229.x
Pereira, A. S., et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [e-book]. Ed. UAB/NTE/UFSM.
Ramos, I. T. M., Nabarrette, M., Vedovello-Filho, M., de Menezes, C. C., de C. Meneghim, M., & Vedovello, S. A. S. (2022). Correlation between malocclusion and history of bullying in vulnerable adolescents. Angle Orthodontist, 92(5), 677–682. https://doi.org/10.2319/100721-749.1
Rettew, D. C., & Pawlowski, S. (2016). Bullying. Em Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 25(2), 235–242). W.B. Saunders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2015.12.002
Seehra, J., Newton, J. T., & Dibiase, A. T. (2011). Bullying in schoolchildren - Its relationship to dental appearance and psychosocial implications: An update for GDPs. British Dental Journal, 210(9), 411–415. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.339
Seehra, J., Newton, J. T., & Dibiase, A. T. (2013). Interceptive orthodontic treatment in bullied adolescents and its impact on self-esteem and oral-health-related quality of life. European Journal of Orthodontics, 35(5), 615–621. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/cjs051
Shen, L., He, F., Zhang, C., Jiang, H., & Wang, J. (2018). Prevalence of malocclusion in primary dentition in mainland China, 1988–2017: A systematic review and meta analysis. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 4716. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22900-x
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research. 104, 333-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039.
Sweidan, A. T., El-Beialy, A. R., El-Mangoury, N. H., Mostafa, Y. A., & Dehis, H. M. (2024). Prevalence and factors influencing bullying among Egyptian schoolchildren. Journal of Orthodontics. https://doi.org/10.1177/14653125241229455
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., ... Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
Tristão, S. K. P. C., Magno, M. B., Pintor, A. V. B., Christovam, I. F. O., Ferreira, D. M. T. P., Maia, L. C., & de Souza, I. P. R. (2020). Is there a relationship between malocclusion and bullying? A systematic review. Em Progress in Orthodontics (Vol. 21, Número 1). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40510-020-00323-7
Ukra, A., Bennani, F., & Farella, M. (2012). Psychological aspects of orthodontics in clinical practice. Part Two: General psychosocial wellbeing. Em Progress in Orthodontics (Vol. 13, Número 1, p. 69–77). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pio.2011.08.001
Zhang, M., McGrath, C., & Hägg, U. (2006). The impact of malocclusion and its treatment on quality of life: A literature review. Em International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry (Vol. 16, Número 6, p. 381–387). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-263X.2006.00768.x
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Eulália Mendes de Oliveira, Timóteo Sousa Lopes, Gerlandia Ferreira de Souza Fernandes, Bruna Gabriely Sousa Silva, Maria Eduarda Costa do Amaral, José Vitor Mota Lemos, Hellíada Vasconcelos Chaves
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
