title: Effect of socioeconomic status on normative and perceived orthodontic treatment need.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on normative and perceived orthodontic treatment need, satisfaction with dental appearance, and regularity of dental attendance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 550 adolescents (232 boys, 318 girls) aged 13 to 17 years who were categorized according to SES into three groups: low, middle, and high SES. Normative treatment need was assessed by using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. Data were collected by clinical examination and face-to-face interview. The χ(2) test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 34.0% of the untreated subjects had a definite dental need for treatment and 24.5% had a moderate need; among those, 53.5% were of low SES (P  =  .017). One-third of the sample had a moderate to definite esthetic need, most of whom had a low SES (P  =  .009). Of the subjects who were dissatisfied with their dental appearance and reported a self-perceived need for treatment, around one-third had a low SES. Most subjects with low SES were irregular dental attenders (P < .001). Subjects of low SES, those who had a self-perceived need for treatment, and those who were dissatisfied with their dental appearance were more likely to have a definite normative esthetic need.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects of low SES exhibited greater normative and perceived treatment needs than subjects of higher SES. They were less satisfied with their dental appearance and visited a dentist less frequently.
authors: a  Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Serene A
authors: SA
authors: Badran
authors: Alaa H
authors: AH
authors: Sabrah
authors: Sofia A
authors: SA
authors: Hadidi
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Al-Khateeb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061326:Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011203:Poverty; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Normative treatment need; Satisfaction; Self-perceived need; Social class; Socioeconomic status