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
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.