title: Orthodontic treatment need of Nigerian outpatients assessed with the Dental Aesthetic Index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When limited resources are available for orthodontic treatment, it is important that those with the greatest need receive treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to determine the orthodontic treatment needs of Nigerian children and young adults attending a University Hospital as outpatients, and to determine if a relationship exists between social class and orthodontic treatment need.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 148 consecutive patients attending a hospital department for orthodontic treatment, 136 were children and young adults (67 males, 69 females) between 6 and 18 years of age. These subjects were assessed with the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), and classified into two social classes with the Standard Occupational Classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost 30 per cent of the children and young adults presenting for treatment had "no/little" need of orthodontic treatment, 20 per cent had DAI scores between 26 and 30 indicating that treatment was "elective", 15 per cent had a "desirable" need for treatment, and 35 per cent had a "mandatory" need for treatment. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between treatment need and social class: more subjects from the lower social classes (semi-skilled and unskilled occupations) needed orthodontic treatment than subjects from the higher social classes (professional, managerial, and skilled occupations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study has shown that not all outpatients presenting/referred for orthodontic treatment "need" treatment. Patients from the semi-skilled and unskilled occupations were more likely to need orthodontic treatment than patients from the professional, managerial and skilled occupations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. coonyeaso@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chukwudi O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Onyeaso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004651:Employment; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010045:Outpatients; D012923:Social Class; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric