title: Malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need of handicapped individuals in South Canara, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and the severity of malocclusion and treatment need for 329 handicapped individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  329 handicapped individuals aged 11-30 years, attending eight different nonresidential special schools of South Canara, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examination and recording using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  53% had a dental appearance which required no orthodontic treatment, 24% had a definite malocclusion, where treatment was 'elective' and treatment for a further 12% was considered to be 'highly desirable'. The remaining subjects (11%) had a handicapping malocclusion where treatment was considered mandatory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of definite and severe malocclusions was higher in the mentally subnormal individuals when compared to other handicapping conditions. Orthodontic services for the handicapped have generally been neglected.
authors.affiliation: Subhas Nagar Kuthar, Munnur Post, Mangalore, Karnataka State, India. dineshrao@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Rao B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dinesh
authors.forename: Hegde M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Arnitha
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Munshi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003970:Diastema; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data