Aim:

To evaluate the influence of social capital on self-perception related to orthodontic treatment need.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 578 11-16 years-old adolescents from a city in southern Brazil. Social capital was evaluated using the Social Capital Questionnaire for Adolescent Students (SCQ-AS). Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) assessed malocclusion and self-perception related to orthodontic treatment need. Sociodemographic aspects of adolescents were also evaluated. Individual analyses were performed, relating the study variables to the outcome, estimating the odds ratio with the respective confidence intervals of 95%. The variables with p<0.20 in the individual analyses were tested in the multiple logistic regression models, and those with p<0.10 remained in the model.

Results:

Social capital did not influence the self-perception related to orthodontic treatment need. Adolescents with high orthodontic needs were 5.35 (CI 95%: 2.68 to 10.65) times more likely to perceived orthodontic treatment need (p <0.05). Crowding and dental absence were associated with self-perception related to orthodontic treatment need (p <0.05).

Conclusions:

Social capital did not influence the self-perception related to orthodontic treatment need