Frequency of dental anomalies and the need for orthodontic treatment in 12-19 year-old adolescents in Isfahan

Determination and registration of orthodontic treatment needs in the general population is useful for planning orthodontic services. Self-perception of dental attractiveness is an important factor affecting orthodontic treatment need. This study investigated orthodontic treatment needs based on clinical dental aesthetic index (DAI) and the aesthetic component (AC) of self-perceived indices of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN). This cross-sectional study evaluated 728 students (52% boys, 48% girls) aged 12-18 in Isfahan. A stratified multistage sampling procedure was used to select subjects and the students wearing an orthodontic appliance or reporting a history of orthodontic treatment were excluded. Clinical examinations were carried out using dental aesthetic index (DAI). The subjective need was assessed using aesthetic component (AC) of index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN). Statistical analysis was undertaken by SPSS software using chi-squared test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The mean DAI and AC scores were 26.1±7.6 and 2.4±1.5, respectively. The most common orthodontic problems were crowding in the anterior segments, non-Class I molar relationship and tooth spacing. The subjects with no need or minor need, moderate need, definite need and severe need for orthodontic treatment comprised 54.5%, 19.5%, 15.1% and 10.9% of the population under study, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between DAI and AC scores (r=0.26, p value = 0.00). According to the results, 26% of the subjects needed orthodontic treatment based on DAI and significant correlation between DAI and AC shows that DAI score might reflect a self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment