Variations in the perceived need for orthodontic treatment in a sample of 14-year-old children in North Derbyshire.

The investigation explored the possibility that failure to present for orthodontic treatment might result from failure by the child or parent to recognise the existence of an irregular dentition, or to perceive an irregular dentition as a cause for concern. Although a previous investigation by the present authors revealed that a substantial number of the 14-year-old children who had not received and were not scheduled for treatment were in need of orthodontic intervention, use of the SCAN index showed that the great majority did not perceive themselves as having a markedly unattractive dental appearance. Furthermore, almost 86 per cent of the children who had not received and were not scheduled for orthodontic treatment declared themselves happy with their dental aesthetics, as did a similar proportion of their parents. On the other hand, a large majority of children scheduled for orthodontic treatment, together with their parents, reported themselves unhappy with the dental aesthetics.