The subjective orthodontic treatment need assessed with the aesthetic component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need

Objective

The objective of this research was to evaluate the subjective orthodontic treatment with the aesthetic component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need among a sample of Yemeni population.

Materials and methods

The investigation was carried out in Sana’a city, a total of 368 participants were randomly selected from a list of 1376 university students excluding dentistry students, among them 165 responded (92 females and 73 males) based on a questionnaire. The questionnaire checked items concerning the subjective assessment of dental appearance, demand for orthodontic treatment, and any functional disorders (speech, mastication, muscular pain). For statistical analysis chi-square test was used. A probability at the 5% level or less (P < 0.05) was considered statistically significant.

Results

Overall, 96.4% of the sample classified themselves in the ‘no treatment need’ category, 3% classified themselves in the ‘great treatment need’ category. Satisfaction with dental aesthetics was expressed by 65.5% of respondents. Out of the total sample, 41.8% said that they should have orthodontic treatment, the sex distribution was significantly different (chi-square = 4.279, df = 3, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

According to the AC of IOTN, almost 3.6% of the evaluated Yemeni subjects had a ‘borderline need’ to a ‘great need’ for orthodontic treatment. If the answers of those who said that they should have orthodontic treatment are considered, the need would increase to two-fifth (41.8%) of the sample.