title: Malocclusions and orthodontic treatment needs in a group of Spanish adolescents using the Dental Aesthetic Index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need among Spanish adolescents and compare with other populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample comprised 744 schoolchildren from urban and rural populations in Granada province (Southern Spain), aged from 14-20 years, who had received no orthodontic treatment. The measurement instrument was the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean DAI score of the whole series was 25.6 (SD, 7.94). The distribution of the four DAI grades was: DAI 1, no anomaly or malocclusion, 58.6%; DAI 2, definite malocclusion, 20.3%; DAI 3, severe malocclusion, 11.2%; DAI 4, very severe or disabling malocclusion, 9.9%. There were no statistically significant differences in DAI score between genders or those in rural vs. urban residence, but a significant difference was found between social classes, with subjects of low social class presenting the worst scores (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of DAI scores among Spanish adolescents is similar to that reported in other populations.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Campus de Cartuja s/n 18071 Granada, Spain. abgbaca@ugr.es
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baca-Garcia
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Junco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000145:classification*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000145:classification*; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain; D014504:Urban Health