title: The prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs in school going children of Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in 13-18-year-old schoolchildren of Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment need (IOTN) and to analyze the treatment needs between males and females and correlation between the esthetic component (AC) and dental health component (DHC) of IOTN.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 2000 school children (1125 females and 875 males) who had not undergone orthodontic treatment. No radiographs, study casts, were used; IOTN was calculated from clinical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DHC results showed that little need for orthodontic treatment was found in 31.6% and moderate need in 30.85%. A great need was estimated at 37.55%. Severe contact point displacement of more than 4 mm was the most common occlusal feature in the definite treatment need group, followed by increased overjet, impeded eruption of teeth, and anterior or posterior cross bite. AC results showed that little need for orthodontic treatment was in 86.15%, moderate need in 8.90%, and great need in 4.95%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Index does not consider midline discrepancy, soft tissue abnormalities, and AC does not include Class III and Class II div 2 malocclusion photographs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There seems a discrepancy in the proportion of children needing orthodontic treatment on esthetic and dental health grounds. This study provides baseline data on the need and demand for orthodontic treatment among the sample which is important for planning public orthodontic and dental services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sarabjeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Navreet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D015995:Prevalence