EQUITY AND ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT - A STUDY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Citation
B. Breistein et Dj. Burden, EQUITY AND ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT - A STUDY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN NORTHERN-IRELAND, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 113(4), 1998, pp. 408-413
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Dentistry,Oral Surgery & Medicine
ISSN journal
08895406
Volume
113
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
408 - 413
Database
ISI
SICI code
0889-5406(1998)113:4<408:EAOT-A>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
This epidemiological study investigated the reasons why children in No rthern Ireland who need orthodontic treatment do not receive treatment even when it is provided free by the state. A total of 1584 15- and 1 6-year-olds were examined in 23 high schools with the Index of Orthodo ntic Treatment Need. The characteristics of the adolescents who had re ceived orthodontic treatment were compared with those who had a defini te need for treatment and yet did not receive treatment or advice. One in 10 of the adolescents examined had an unmet need for orthodontic t reatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influenc e of 11 variables including socioeconomic status, religion, and standa rd of dental health on the uptake of orthodontic care. This analysis r evealed that the only significant predictors of whether an adolescent received orthodontic treatment was the dental attendance pattern of th e adolescent, the adolescent's dental health, and the dental attendanc e pattern of the adolescent's mother. Those adolescents who had good d ental health, who regularly attended a dentist, and whose mother regul arly attended a dentist were more likely to receive orthodontic treatm ent.