PERCEIVED, DESIRED, AND NORMATIVELY DETERMINED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT NEEDS IN MALE US ARMY RECRUITS

This study assessed perceived, desired, and normative need for orthodo ntic care in a systematic random sample of 576 male enlisted Army recr uits at one Army post in fall 1990. Perceived and desired need were co llected using a pretested questionnaire. Normative need was assessed o n all participants by one dentist using the Treatment Priority Index. Results show 16.3% of enlisted male Army recruits have severe or handi capping malocclusions, yet only one-third desire corrective treatment. Preference for orthodontic care is strongly influenced by the recruit 's education level. We recommend that military health policymakers con sider expanding access to adult orthodontic care for active duty milit ary personnel to keep pace with its widening acceptance by the general public and to keep the military health benefits package competitive w ith those of civilian employers.