<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Background:</italic> The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) has been used in many cross-sectional studies of population samples, but its use in assessing changes in malocclusion is less common. The aim of the present study was to describe the natural history of malocclusion and investigate the utility of the DAI as a measure for describing changes in malocclusion in a population-based sample of adolescents.
<italic>Method:</italic> A repeat examination was conducted of a sample of 430 children first assessed in 2003 at age 13 and re-examined at age 16 (255 or 59.3 per cent of the baseline sample) with their DAI and orthodontic history recorded at each age.
<italic>Results:</italic> Of the adolescents re-assessed, 28 were in active orthodontic treatment, 30 had completed treatment and 197 had not received any treatment. There were substantial changes in the DAI items from age 13 to 16, with the greatest improvement in maxillary anterior irregularity. Overall, almost one-quarter of participants showed an improvement in their DAI treatment need category which was considerably higher among those who had either received treatment or were in treatment.
<italic>Conclusion:</italic> The DAI is a valid and responsive tool for measuring change in malocclusion over time. Anterior mandibular irregularity shows the greatest change with age, and orthodontic treatment is effective in treating malocclusion, at least in the short term.
</abstract>

Background: The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) has been used in many cross-sectional studies of population samples, but its use in assessing changes in malocclusion is less common. The aim of the present study was to describe the natural history of malocclusion and investigate the utility of the DAI as a measure for describing changes in malocclusion in a population-based sample of adolescents.
Method: A repeat examination was conducted of a sample of 430 children first assessed in 2003 at age 13 and re-examined at age 16 (255 or 59.3 per cent of the baseline sample) with their DAI and orthodontic history recorded at each age.
Results: Of the adolescents re-assessed, 28 were in active orthodontic treatment, 30 had completed treatment and 197 had not received any treatment. There were substantial changes in the DAI items from age 13 to 16, with the greatest improvement in maxillary anterior irregularity. Overall, almost one-quarter of participants showed an improvement in their DAI treatment need category which was considerably higher among those who had either received treatment or were in treatment.
Conclusion: The DAI is a valid and responsive tool for measuring change in malocclusion over time. Anterior mandibular irregularity shows the greatest change with age, and orthodontic treatment is effective in treating malocclusion, at least in the short term.

Changes in malocclusion over time in New Zealand adolescents

Department of Oral Rehabilitation Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry

Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry

Australasian Orthodontic Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Changes in malocclusion over time in New Zealand adolescents"}

Background: The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) has been used in many cross-sectional studies of population samples, but its use in assessing changes in...

Changes in malocclusion over time in New Zealand adolescents

Published Online: Aug 01, 2023

Page range: 169 - 175

Received: Oct 01, 2010

Accepted: Oct 01, 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2011-0022

© 2011 Lyndie A. Foster Page et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.