Editorial Message 2024

The World Health Organization recently reported that oral diseases ranked among the most common noncommunicable diseases globally, affecting an estimated 13.5 billion people. Also, malocclusion, as an integral part of the oral health burden, constitutes a significant portion of oral health disease that affects over 56% of people worldwide without relevant gender differences.Its prevalence and ranking may vary across different regions and populations, depending on factors like access to orthodontic care, cultural beliefs, and attitudes toward oral health, with the highest prevalence in Africa. Such important epidemiological data on malocclusion, especially from systemic reviews and meta-analysis in primary, mixed and permanent dentition, helps to determine, direct and prioritize orthodontic treatment needs, especially in low and medium-income countries with limited access and resources.