RESIDUAL ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT NEED IN A SAMPLE OF 15-YEAR-OLDS AND 16-YEAR-OLDS

This study investigated the residual unmet orthodontic need, both norm ative and perceived, in young adults who had passed the age at which o rthodontic treatment would have normally commenced. A total of 506 15- and 16-year-olds attending eight secondary schools were screened by a single trained examiner using the 'Index of Orthodontic Treatment Nee d' (IOTN). There were 154 (30.4%) subjects classified as being in need of orthodontic treatment using IOTN and 82 of these (16% of the sampl e) were found to be in need of orthodontic treatment but had no recoll ection of orthodontic treatment ever being discussed with them. Childr en with malocclusion, who had received no orthodontic advice, came fro m across the range of socio-economic groups, were more likely to be ma le, and were less likely to be happy with their appearance than their unaffected peers.