Abstract

LAZO AMADOR, Yaima; PENALVER SOA, Sonia  and  CASAMAYOR LAIME, Zuleika. Orthodontic treatment needs among senior high school students. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2014, vol.43, n.1, pp.3-10. ISSN 0138-6557.

Introduction: malocclusions rank third among the health problems affecting the stomatognathic system, according to the World Health Organization. Objective: determine orthodontic treatment needs among 10^th grade students. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted of 298 students aged 15 and 16, who were examined and evaluated with the Dental Aesthetic Index. Results: lower anterior dental crowding, ridge alignment and anterior-posterior molar alignment were the most common occlusion anomalies in both sexes, and were found in 62.42 %, 41.28 % and 33.89 %, respectively, without any significant difference. 54.36 % of the study sample did not need any orthodontic treatment, or needed just minor treatment for mild malocclusions. Most patients with severe or very severe malocclusions expressed the felt need to undergo orthodontic treatment. Conclusions: although not many patients have very severe malocclusions, orthodontic treatment was requested by a large proportion of the study sample. A high correlation was found between the felt need and the severity of malocclusions.

Keywords : malocclusions; orthodontic treatment need.

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