Prevalence and Patterns of Malocclusions in the Russian Population (1993–2023): A Systematic Review

Dentofacial anomalies remain among the most common conditions affecting the maxillofacial region and pose a significant medical and social concern. Despite the numerous published studies, estimates of the prevalence and distribution of different types of dentofacial anomalies vary widely, complicating the development of a comprehensive understanding of the issue and the planning of orthodontic care. This highlights the importance of conducting a systematic review with quantitative synthesis of the available evidence.

In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, including 68 dissertation-based studies with a total sample of 74168 subjects. The pooled prevalence of malocclusion was 60,7 % in individuals under 15 years of age and 61,1 % in those aged 15 years and older. Among dentofacial anomalies, the most frequently observed conditions were dental alignment anomalies (47,2 %), distal occlusion (25,7 %), deep bite (16,6 %), crossbite (6,1 %), mesial occlusion (5,0 %), and open bite (5,4 %). Considerable heterogeneity was observed across all analyses, reflecting differences in diagnostic criteria and study population characteristics.

The findings provide a more precise characterization of the prevalence and pattern of dentofacial anomalies across different regions of the Russian Federation and highlight age-related differences in their distribution. These results may support more evidence-based planning of preventive and therapeutic orthodontic interventions and emphasize the need for standardized diagnostic and analytical approaches in accordance with current clinical guidelines.