The need for orthodontic treatment.

Basic problems of the need and demand for orthodontic treatment have been discussed and new areas of research have been identified. Discrepancies have been described between the views of the dental profession and the potential patients on malocclusion and the need for treatment. For malocclusions with or without impairment of the function the self perception of the patient may be different from and of more relevance than the professional judgment of the orthodontist. Before going into orthodontic treatment, the social sufficiency of the patient should be evaluated.