Original scientific paper
The Unmet Orthodontic Treatment Need of Adolescents and Influencing Factors for not Seeking Orthodontic Therapy
Stjepan Špalj
orcid.org/0000-0003-4836-3903
; University of Rijeka, School of Medicine, Department of Orthodontics, Rijeka, Croatia
Martina Šlaj
; University of Zagreb, School of Dental Medicine,Department of Orthodontics, Zagreb, Croatia
Athanasios E. Athanasiou
; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Thessaloniki, Greece
Danijela Kalibović Govorko
; University of Split, School of Medicine, Department of Orthodontics, Split, Croatia
Mladen Šlaj
; University of Zagreb, School of Dental Medicine,Department of Orthodontics, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate unmet orthodontic treatment needs of adolescents in Zagreb, Croatia, compare
normative and self-perceived need and investigate factors influencing the reason why untreated subjects with severe
malocclusions have not been treated before. One thousand and forty-two non-orthodontically treated subjects in age
groups of 12 and 18 years, from sixteen randomly selected public schools in Zagreb, Croatia were examined. The Dental
Aesthetic Index, Aesthetic Component of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and a questionnaire concerning self-perceived
orthodontic treatment need, perception of aesthetics, function, behaviors and socioeconomic status were used.
Around one third of untreated adolescent population had an objective need, less than 20 percent had aesthetic need, and
self-perceived need was reported in one third of population. Associations and agreements between objective, aesthetic and
self-perceived need were weak (r=0.27–0.48; p<0.001 and k in range from 0.05 (p>0.05) to 0.32 (p<0.05), respectively).
Satisfaction with personal dental appearance and awareness of malocclusion were better related in persons with no
treatment need or minor need (r=0.53–0.59) than in those with major need (r=0.31–0.40). Multiple logistic regression
analyses confirmed that objective, aesthetic and self-perceived needs were better related between themselves than to socioeconomic
status of subjects, function, activities of daily living and oral health-related behaviors. It appears that self-perceived
treatment need has low role in predicting objective need, but relation between satisfaction and awareness of malocclusion
could be one of basic factors in process of making decision to go for treatment and maybe could serve in predicting
patient’s compliance.
Keywords
malocclusion; prevalence; orthodontic treatment need; perception
Hrčak ID:
147546
URI
Publication date:
29.12.2014.
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