Malocclusion severity in orthodontic patients. How to establish treatment priorities in public institutions? - ROS - 2006 - Tome 35 - N°4

TThe aim of this study was to evaluate the malocclusion severity rate in 982 patients of the Orthodontic Clinic at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). This method includes an occlusal assessment - Dental Health Component (DHC), and also an aesthetic evaluation (Aesthetic Component - AC). The initial study models were evaluated by only one calibrated examiner, following the index protocol. 90.1% of the cases were classified within the maximum DHC scores, 4 and 5, demonstrating a greater need of treatment, and concerning the AC scores, 46.8% were classified within 8, 9 and 10, indicating a higher aesthetic impairment. It could be concluded that in the examined Clinic, the criteria employed for patients´ inclusion correspond to orthodontic treatment needs, and IOTN shows to be an efficient way of selecting patients in Public Institutions.