title: [The need for orthodontic treatment. Justification and methods of evaluation (part 1)].
abstract: Most adolescents in developing countries undergo orthodontic treatment. Three main reasons are routinely cited to justify the provision of orthodontic treatment i.e. the improvement of facial and/or dental aesthetic, the preservation of the health and functioning of the dentition. Orthodontic indices have been devised to minimise the subjectivity related to the classic orthodontic diagnosis. These indices can be classified under five headings: nosological, epidemiological, treatment need, outcome and complexity.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Odonto-Stomatologie, Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d'Odonto-Stomatologie, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Sénégal. ibrahim@refer.sn
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ngom
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diagne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richmond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008409:Mastication; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D012720:Severity of Illness Index