Need for Orthodontic Treatment in Pupils Aged between 12 and 15 in the Valencian Region (Spain).

José Enrique Iranzo-Cortés,José Manuel Almerich-Silla,Carlos Bellot-Arcís,José María Montiel-Company,Teresa Almerich-Torres

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910162

José Enrique Iranzo-Cortés, José Manuel Almerich-Silla + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910162

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Abstract

The World Health Organization recommends carrying out periodic epidemiological studies in order to provide a basis for the evaluation of the state of health of the population at any given time; in doing so, action strategies can be established for the treatment of different pathologies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment in adolescents at school aged between 12 and 15 in the Spanish autonomous region known as Comunidad Valenciana (hereafter: Valencian Region). A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 539 12-year-old schoolchildren and 460 15-year-olds, respectively, selected by cluster sampling and representative of the school-aged population of the Valencian Region, using the IOTN-DHC, IOTN-AC, and DAI indices. The need for specific orthodontic treatment according to the IOTN-DHC was 12.6% at 12 years and 7% at 15. For the IOTN-AC and DAI indices, the treatment needs were 4.3% and 0.9% at 12 years and 30.1% and 20.9% at the age of 15. These results were similar to those obtained in the previous study carried out on the same target population. There was no significant association between the need for treatment and gender or social class. We conclude that the need for orthodontic treatment presents values similar to those obtained in 2010.

Highlights

It is difficult to define malocclusion as a single concept, since it is highly variable and depends on the individual to be examined, the culture and country to which that an individual belongs to, or the prevailing fashion at the time
Following from this, the objective of this study is to assess the need for orthodontic treatment, as well as the differences that may exist depending on the gender or socioeconomic status of the schoolchildren studied
To determine the sample size we have based ourselves on the prevalence of the need for orthodontic treatment obtained in the last epidemiological study carried out in the Valencian Region, carried out in 2010 [6]

Summary

Introduction

It is difficult to define malocclusion as a single concept, since it is highly variable and depends on the individual to be examined, the culture and country to which that an individual belongs to, or the prevailing fashion at the time. It is not quantified in the same way by the patient as by the professional who assesses it. Many indices of treatment have been developed over the years with the aim of classifying the distinct levels of malocclusion and thereby establishing treatment priorities in populations in specific healthcare systems that may include orthodontic treatment; the said indices can assist the specialist in planning treatment options, but among orthodontists, solid unanimity is lacking as to which treatment or set of treatments is the most appropriate [2]

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