Abstract
Abstract Background There are few reports of the socio-demographic and malocclusion characteristics of those undergoing clinical orthodontic treatment in private specialist practice. Aim To describe the pretreatment characteristics of individuals presenting for orthodontic treatment. Methods Individuals (N = 174) presenting for orthodontic treatment in 19 private specialist orthodontic practices in New Zealand were randomly selected and examined (at the beginning of a three-year prospective study) and their malocclusions compared using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Results The mean DAI score was 35.8 (SD 8.4). There were no statistically significant socio-demographic differences in DAI score other than by household-based socio-economic status (SES), whereby mean scores were considerably higher in those of low SES. The majority of patients attending for treatment had severe or very severe/handicapping malocclusions. Females had less severe malocclusions than males, on average, although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions The malocclusion severity threshold for seeking orthodontic treatment appears to be higher in those of lower SES. The study findings highlight the need to improve access to orthodontic treatment for this group.
Highlights
The majority of available information on malocclusion severity has been sourced from population surveys and dental-school-based studies.[1]
The association between socio-economic status (SES) and malocclusion characteristics for those who accept orthodontic treatment has been restricted to investigation in population surveys
Participants who were from low household SES backgrounds were over-represented in the ‘very severe/handicapping’ category
Summary
The majority of available information on malocclusion severity has been sourced from population surveys and dental-school-based studies.[1]. Any observable difference in malocclusion severity between population-based and clinical samples should assist in determining how much more severe a malocclusion has to be before treatment is sought. Such a difference will be moderated by socio-demographic factors; for example, it is a reasonable assumption that those from lower socio-economic backgrounds would face greater barriers to orthodontic treatment, and that their malocclusion threshold for treatment would be correspondingly more severe. There were no statistically significant socio-demographic differences in DAI score other than by household-based socio-economic status (SES), whereby mean scores were considerably higher in those of low SES. The study findings highlight the need to improve access to orthodontic treatment for this group. (Aust Orthod J 2015; 31: 20–25)
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