PREVALENCE OF MALOCCLUSION IN HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS IN JAPAN ACCORDINGTO THE DENTAL AESTHETIC INDEX

The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) was used to evaluate malocclusion in Japanese high school students (n = 409, ages 15-18 yr). The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data concerning malocclusion in Japane se high school students. This study used a sample of students from ran domly selected urban and rural high schools in Japan's Kyushu district . The DAI scores for urban and rural high school students, as well as the total DAI scores from these two areas were significantly higher th an that of American high school students. These results showed that th e number of students with an acceptable dental appearance among Japane se high school students is significantly lower than among American hig h school students. This indicates a higher need for orthodontic treatm ent among Japanese high school students.