title: The Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need validated against lay opinion.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the threshold of aesthetic impairment where orthodontic treatment would be sought by a sample of lay people. Using the 10-grade Aesthetic Component (AC) scale of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), 215 university students selected the level of aesthetic impairment that represented the point at which they would seek orthodontic treatment. Only nine (4.3 per cent) of the respondents recorded a threshold grade beyond grade 5 in the AC. The AC photograph grade 4 was found to be the most commonly selected threshold photograph. Subjects who visited the dentist every 6 months were more likely to choose a threshold photograph closer to the attractive end of the scale than those who visited their dentist less frequently (P < 0.01). This study, using lay people rather than dental health professionals, suggests that as currently used the AC does not reflect society's aesthetic expectations. The results indicate that when using the AC of the IOTN the 'no need for treatment' category should be grades 1-3 of the AC, rather than grades 1-4.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BP, UK.
authors.forename: Orlagh
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hepper
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires