Residual Need for Early Orthodontic Treatment and Orthodontic Treatment Experience among 13- to 14-Year-Old School Children in Kuwait

Abstract

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the residual need for early orthodontic treatment and the parameters associated with orthodontic treatment experience in 13- to 14-year-old school children in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: A total of 788 boys and 795 girls, representing about 6.7% of the target population, were selected according to cluster sampling methods. Information on nationality, family income and orthodontic treatment experience was collected through subject and family interviews. The occlusal morphology was recorded in a well-lit classroom or from initial study models of subjects with orthodontic treatment experience. Results: Only 6.7% of the 225 subjects with early treatment need, defined as overjet ≧6.5 mm, and functional posterior and anterior crossbite on 1 or more teeth, had treatment experience. Residual need for early treatment was present in 13.4% of the subjects. Only 26.8% of the subjects with treatment experience met our criteria for early treatment need. The odds of treatment experience were higher in the subjects attending private schools (p < 0.05), in those from families with an income of KWD >2,000 (USD 6,600; p < 0.01) and in subjects meeting the criteria for early treatment need (p < 0.01). Conclusions: About 15% of each birth cohort of school children in Kuwait need early orthodontic treatment. Less than 10% of those with a need have treatment experience at 13–14 years of age, and about 75% of those with treatment experience at that age do not need early treatment. The predictors for treatment experience at 13–14 years of age are private-school attendance, a high family income and need for early treatment.