The perception of occlusal conditions and profiles in a Mitchells Plain school population

Abstract

The prioritisation of treatment opinions by state funded orthodontic programmes has become essential in the planning of services. Numerous indices rate the severity of occlusal conditions; however, all do not adequately address the problem. It is recommended that a ranking of occlusal conditions be obtained from the community which the index is designed to serve (Shaw and Robertson, 1975). With the relocation of the Dental Faculty of the University of the Western Cape to Mitchells Plain, coupled with an increase in demand for orthodontic treatment by this community the prioritisation of orthodontic treatment needs has become essential. Two samples, one consisting of L2 14 year old school children (n = 351) and the other of senior dental students (n = 23) were selected. Four schools in MitcheIIs Plain were randomly chosen. Occlusal conditions and profiles were selected from patient records by a panel. slides were made utilising computer graphics. Respondents completed a questionnaire recording socio-demographic data, a rating of orthodontic self-image and a rating of a series of slides. In the latter the subjects were asked to view selected occlusal conditions and profiles. They responded to two questions, relating to a ranking of the severity of the condition and the consideration of the necessity of treatment for the condition. The results indicated that the majority of the school children and dental students are satisfied with their appearance. Similar ratings to those found in other studies r{ere obtained with the "ideal" class I occlusion receiving the best rating and the severe class III and severe crowding receiving the worst rating. An inverse relationship of treatment recommendation and rating was found with conditions rated best receiving a low rating of treatment. A treatment priority based on the perception of occlusal conditions and profiles L2 14 year old school children and dental students was recommended.