Malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need of handicapped individuals in South Canara, India.
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.
Dinesh
Rao B
RB
Subhas Nagar Kuthar, Munnur Post, Mangalore, Karnataka State, India. dineshrao@rediffmail.com
Arnitha
Hegde M
HM
Munshi
A K
AK
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