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Demand for orthodontic treatment among 9-18 year-olds seeking dental care in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the demand for orthodontic treatment among 9-18 olds seeking dental care in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Design: Case-control, interview and clinical study.
Settings: Children seeking dental care.
Main outcome measures: Demand for orthodontic treatment.
Results: Most of the children (85%) in the case group attended the dental clinic because of crowding. Aesthetic impairment (AC grades 8-10) and severe malocclusions (DHC grades 4-5) were higher in cases than in controls being 47and 5%; and 67and 18%, respectively (p<0.0001). Absolute need (combined AC grade 8-10 and DHC 4-5) was found in 29% of the cases and 5% of the controls (p<0.0001). A relative probability for a child with absolute need to seek orthodontic treatment was 7.9 higher (95%) CI for OR= (5,13), compared to a child without an absolute need for orthodontic treatment. The most prevalent severe occlusal feature placing cases in the highest need category was crowding (74%). For the cases, it was mainly a mother (45%) who first recognized the problem in the family, and tooth extraction (62%) was the most common expected mode of treatment. Most parents (96%) were prepared to pay for their children's orthodontic treatment.
Conclusion: Most children in the case group had come to the clinic due to crowding. Ectopic canines were the driving factor for children and parents to seek orthodontic care. Further studies are recommended to map the demand for orthodontic treatment in the Tanzanian rural settings.
East African Medical Journal Vol.81(1) 2004: 3-9
Design: Case-control, interview and clinical study.
Settings: Children seeking dental care.
Main outcome measures: Demand for orthodontic treatment.
Results: Most of the children (85%) in the case group attended the dental clinic because of crowding. Aesthetic impairment (AC grades 8-10) and severe malocclusions (DHC grades 4-5) were higher in cases than in controls being 47and 5%; and 67and 18%, respectively (p<0.0001). Absolute need (combined AC grade 8-10 and DHC 4-5) was found in 29% of the cases and 5% of the controls (p<0.0001). A relative probability for a child with absolute need to seek orthodontic treatment was 7.9 higher (95%) CI for OR= (5,13), compared to a child without an absolute need for orthodontic treatment. The most prevalent severe occlusal feature placing cases in the highest need category was crowding (74%). For the cases, it was mainly a mother (45%) who first recognized the problem in the family, and tooth extraction (62%) was the most common expected mode of treatment. Most parents (96%) were prepared to pay for their children's orthodontic treatment.
Conclusion: Most children in the case group had come to the clinic due to crowding. Ectopic canines were the driving factor for children and parents to seek orthodontic care. Further studies are recommended to map the demand for orthodontic treatment in the Tanzanian rural settings.
East African Medical Journal Vol.81(1) 2004: 3-9
