The orthodontic treatment need and demand of Hong Kong Chinese children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the need and demand for orthodontic treatment of Chinese school children in Hong Kong.


METHODS
The material consisted of study casts and questionnaires collected from 765 randomly selected 12-year-old school children in Hong Kong. The need for orthodontic treatment was assessed by the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, and questionnaires were used in assessing demand for orthodontic treatment.


RESULTS
The results indicate that 12% of the 12-year-old school children had no need of orthodontic treatment, 18% had little need (Grade 2), 33% moderate need (Grade 3), 33% great need (Grade 4), and 4% of children had very great need for orthodontic treatment (Grade 5). About two thirds of the children were not satisfied with their dental appearance, but only 40% of these would like to have orthodontic treatment. A definite relationship was found between negative self-appraisal of dental appearance and demand for orthodontic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates that the need of orthodontic treatment among Chinese children is similar to that of Caucasian children; the attitude and demand toward treatment are also similar.
Wang
G
G
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, SAR-China.
Hagg
U
U
Ling
J
J
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires