A comparison of the perceived and normative needs for dental care in 12-year-old children in the northwest of England.

The perceived treatment needs for dental caries and orthodontics were recorded for a group of twelve-year-old children. The results were compared with the normative needs, as determined by examiners at routine school examinations prior to, and after training and calibration in the use the BASCD caries diagnostic criteria and the IOTN. Both sets of normative needs were also compared to the results obtained by a third examiner, already trained and calibrated in the use of the indices. It was found that the training and calibration exercises resulted in a statistically significant closer relationship between perceived and normative needs for both dental caries and orthodontic treatment needs. It is concluded that training will be of benefit in treatment needs assessment, as it will take account of perceived treatment needs.