title: Perception of orthodontic treatment need: opinion comparisons of orthodontists, pediatric dentists, and general practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between treatment need assessment scores of orthodontists, general practitioners, and pediatric dentists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten general dental practitioners, 18 orthodontists and 15 pediatric dentists reviewed 137 dental casts and recorded their opinion on whether orthodontic treatment was needed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a high level of agreement between pediatric dentists, orthodontists and general practitioners (Kappa range 0.86-0.95). Between the groups, the amount of agreement was lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orthodontists, general dental practitioners, and pediatric dentists in this sample exhibit high levels of agreement on orthodontic treatment need.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15210, USA. nwb@sdmgenetics.pitt.edu
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: H Dukich
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavalier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Studen-Pavlovich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sciote
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weyant
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003765:Models, Dental; D015588:Observer Variation; D009970:Orthodontics; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry