THE NEED FOR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT IN THE CHILD POPULATION OF THE UNITED-KINGDOM

The effective management of a public dental health system requires acc urate data on the needs of the population. Previous assessments of the levels of orthodontic treatment need in populations, by both epidemio logists and orthodontists, vary considerably. This paper presents the findings of two independent investigations into orthodontic treatment need in the United Kingdom using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Ne ed (IOTN, Brook and Shaw, 1989). The results indicate that approximate ly one-third of 11-12-year-olds were in objective need of orthodontic treatment. The basis for allocation to the treatment need groups was s imilar in both studies, as were the proportions of the most severe occ lusal traits.