title: Occlusal characteristics and orthodontic treatment need in black adolescents in Salvador/BA (Brazil): an epidemiologic study using the Dental Aesthetics Index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to evaluate the need of orthodontic treatment, prevalence and severity of the malocclusions in individuals of black ethnicity in a representative sample of schoolchildren of the city of Salvador/Brazil, as well as to verify if the malocclusion was affected by socio-demographic conditions such as age and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reference population was constituted of schoolchildren with age between 12 and 15 years, enrolled in public and private schools. The malocclusion was evaluated in 486 students of black ethnicity, with ages varying from 12 to 15 years, selected in random sample in multiple stages. The adopted significance level was 1% and the power of the test was 90%. A questionnaire registering demographic characteristics was filled out by each individual. The Dental Aesthetics Index (DAI) was used by previously calibrated examiners (kappa 0.89), according to criteria of the World Health Organization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was verified that most of the individuals (76%) had little or any need for orthodontic treatment. About 24% showed a condition of severe malocclusion, culminating in a vital need for orthodontic treatment. The main occlusal characteristics found in the group with high need of orthodontic treatment were dental crowding and accentuated overjet. The age was positively related to the improvement of the maxillary overjet and to the presence of crowding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of public politics that aim the insertion of orthodontic treatment among the procedures of health programs, with the implementation and development of specialized centers, is fundamental.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Face Deformities of UFRN. arthurcrfarias@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Arthur Costa Rodrigues
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Teixeira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cangussu
authors.forename: Rogério Frederico Alves
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Castellucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000208:ethnology*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dental; Dental Health Surveys; Esthetics; Malocclusion; Orthodontics