Resumen

TOLEDO REYES, Lilian; MACHADO MARTINEZ, Miriam; MARTINEZ HERRADA, Yaumara  y  MUNOZ MEDINA, Mabel. Malocclusions according to the dental aesthetics index (DAI) in the population under 19 years old. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2004, vol.41, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-297X.

descriptive study was conducted among 176 subjects under 19 from the family physician's office 30-03 of "Chiqui Gómez Lubián" Teaching Polyclinic that received attention at the Dental Faculty of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Santa Clara, in 2002, aimed at showing the clinical status of dental occlusion by the dental aesthetics index (DAI) and at comparing its results with the specialist's criterion. The information was obtained by the method of observation, measurements, dental clinical examination and personal interviews. 13.6 % had very severe or disabling malocclusions and 69.3 % presented crowding. The dental aesthetics index showed 96 % of sensitivity in relation to the need of priority treatment. It was concluded that the index is effective to identify the priority treatment needs. It also proved to be suitable on being compared with the specialist's criterion.

Palabras clave : DAI; malocclusion; orthodontic treatment.