Malocclusions and orthodontic treatment needs in a group of Spanish adolescents using the Dental Aesthetic Index.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need among Spanish adolescents and compare with other populations.

METHODS

The study sample comprised 744 schoolchildren from urban and rural populations in Granada province (Southern Spain), aged from 14-20 years, who had received no orthodontic treatment. The measurement instrument was the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).

RESULTS

The mean DAI score of the whole series was 25.6 (SD, 7.94). The distribution of the four DAI grades was: DAI 1, no anomaly or malocclusion, 58.6%; DAI 2, definite malocclusion, 20.3%; DAI 3, severe malocclusion, 11.2%; DAI 4, very severe or disabling malocclusion, 9.9%. There were no statistically significant differences in DAI score between genders or those in rural vs. urban residence, but a significant difference was found between social classes, with subjects of low social class presenting the worst scores (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The distribution of DAI scores among Spanish adolescents is similar to that reported in other populations.