OCCLUSAL TRAITS AND PERCEPTION OF ORTHODONTIC NEED IN 8TH GRADE STUDENTS

In 1994, 1155 eighth-grade students in Alachua County, Fla., were aske d about self-perception of and level of concern for their occlusal sta tus. Clinical assessments of orthodontic parameters were also recorded . Twenty-five percent of the students had a history of orthodontic tre atment. Of the remaining students who had no history of orthodontic tr eatment, 74% reported satisfaction with the way their teeth looked, 64 % expressed no perceived need for braces, and 57% were judged clinical ly to have optional or no orthodontic needs. Sex, soft tissue profile, overjet, anterior crowding, and molar classification were significant ly associated with the perception of need for braces while race and ov erbite were not. Clinical judgment of orthodontic need differed signif icantly among levels of satisfaction with teeth. Eighth graders with n o history of orthodontic treatment were generally satisfied with the a ppearance of their teeth and perceived less need for braces than clini cians.