Identification of cases requiring orthodontic treatment. A longitudinal study.

The present paper is a report on the second part of a longitudinal study dealing with the identification of children requiring orthodontic treatment. The series consisted of 200 children selected at random. The children were first examined at the age of 7 and next time at the age of 10. At the second examination 38% were found not to need any orthodontic treatment, while it was considered necessary to follow the occlusal development in 19%, and 43% were found to need treatment. The treatment need was urgent in 17%, moderate in 16% and slight in 10%. The re-examination of the untreated children at the age of 10 offered a possibility of checking the orthodontic prognosis made at the age of 7. It was concluded that only children showing cross bites and severe Class II malocclusions can reliably be selected for treatment at the age of 7. At this age misjudgements can be made with regard to dental arch crowding, open bite, deep bite, overjet and distal occlusion. Furthermore, it was concluded that a final decision concerning the need of orthodontic treatment cannot always be made even in 10-year-old children. The study will be continued by examinations at the ages of 12 and 14.