Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies on orthodontic treatment need in young adults have shown that up to 50% had malocclusions that needed orthodontic treatment. The aims of this study were to assess the normative and self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and to determine if the treatment need levels were influenced by sex, age and socio-economic status (SES) in a sample of Peruvian young adults.Methods281 first-year students (157 male and 124 female students) with a mean age of 18.1 +/- 1.6 years were randomly selected and evaluated through the Dental Health Component (DHC) and Aesthetic Component (AC) of the IOTN. Structured interview and clinical examination were used to assess the students. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.ResultsAn intra-examiner reliability of 0.89 was obtained (weighted Kappa). The percentage of students according to SES was 51.2%, 40.6% and 8.2% corresponding to low, medium and high SES respectively. The percentage of students with DHC grades 4–5 was 29.9% whereas the percentage of students with AC grades 8–10 was 1.8%. There were no significant differences in the distribution of normative and self-perceived orthodontic treatment need based on sex, age and SES comparisons.ConclusionNormative orthodontic treatment need was not matched by a similar level of self-perceived treatment need in these young adults. Sex, age and SES were non-significant factors associated with levels of treatment need.
Highlights
The Dental Health Component (DHC) identifies the worst occlusal trait that is potentially detrimental to dental health and each given grade is a reflection of the level of orthodontic treatment need for the basis of treatment prioritization [3,6,7,13]
The aims of this study were to assess the normative and self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment in a sample of Peruvian young adults using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and to compare the treatment need levels according to sex, age and socioeconomic status (SES) of the students
The objectively determined DHC distributions showed that 29.9% of the students were in great need of treatment, 34.9% in moderate need of treatment, and 35.2% with slight or no need for treatment
Summary
Previous studies on orthodontic treatment need in young adults have shown that up to 50% had malocclusions that needed orthodontic treatment. The planning of orthodontic treatment within a public health system requires information on the orthodontic treatment needs of the population [1]. This would permit selection of cases to be treated based on financial, political or administrative purposes [2]. The DHC identifies the worst occlusal trait that is potentially detrimental to dental health and each given grade is a reflection of the level of orthodontic treatment need for the basis of treatment prioritization [3,6,7,13]. Grades 1 and 2 represent 'no need for treatment'; grade 3 'moderate/borderline need for treatment' and grades 4 and 5 'definite need for orthodontic treatment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
