title: Orthodontic treatment need among special health care needs school children in Dharwad, India: A comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess and compare the prevalence of orthodontic treatment need among various special health care needs (SHCN) schoolchildren and adolescents in Dharwad, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out among 492 subjects in age group of 12-19 years (mean age 14.02 ± 1.84 standard deviation [SD]) who were examined for occlusal anomalies using dental aesthetic index (DAI). They were classified into five groups as: Visual impairment, speech and hearing disability (SH), physical disability, mentally subnormal and multiple disabilities (MD). Chi-square test was used to compare the orthodontic treatment need among various SHCN groups. One-way ANOVA and ANCOVA were performed to test any significant differences in mean DAI scores among the SHCN groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the children were undergoing or had undergone orthodontic treatment for malocclusion. Mean DAI score was 28.81 ± 11.64 (SD). Orthodontic treatment was indicated in 50.2% of study population who had DAI scores of 26 and above. Mandatory orthodontic treatment (DAI >=36) was required in as high as 29% of MD individuals when compared to only 10% of SH individuals. Significant differences in DAI scores were found between the SHCN groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The need for orthodontic treatment among SHCN individuals was found to be high. Yet, absence of any orthodontic treatment for any child points out to the fact that the dental services are highly needed in these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Prajna P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Kvv
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Y Manohar
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Bhat
keywords: Dental aesthetic index; malocclusion; orthodontic treatment need; prevalence; special health care needs