title: Discrepancy index relative to age, sex, and the probability of completing treatment by one resident in a 2-year graduate orthodontics program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Board of Orthodontics' discrepancy index (DI) was designed to objectively quantify the complexity of a malocclusion before orthodontic treatment. In this study, we assessed the influence of age and sex on the DI distribution of a large mixed sample of patients. An additional objective was to ascertain the effectiveness of the DI for predicting the probability that 1 resident can complete the treatment of the malocclusion in a 24-month residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 6 calibrated investigators independently determined the DI scores for 716 consecutive patients in the permanent dentition from the patient pool of Indiana University's graduate orthodontics program over 7 years. The DI was scored and compared with the patient's sex and age, and it was noted whether the patient was transferred to a second resident when the first one graduated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DI is not significantly related to sex or age, but it was a significant predictor for patients who required transfer to a second resident for completion of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DI was a relatively stable index for measuring malocclusion complexity. It is independent of sex or age but is a consistent indicator of the greater time and effort required to complete treatment, because of the significant correlation to the necessity to transfer patient care to a second resident.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maupome
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: W Eugene
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult