Dental health and orthodontic treatment need among dental students treated by certified orthodontists and general dental practitioners

Objectives: To assess the general dental health, orthodontic status, and orthodontic treatment need in young adults. Method and Materials: The subjects were 121 first-year dental students. Fifty-one individuals without orthodontic treatment were compared with 70 orthodontically treated individuals. It was differentiated whether orthodontic treatment had been performed by a certified orthodontic specialist or a general dental practitioner. DMF(T) and DM(T) Index values were recorded. Dental casts were analyzed, and the orthodontic treatment need was assessed using the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Results: Orthodontically treated subjects exhibited statistically significantly lower DMF(T) and DM(T) values than untreated individuals. Treatment performed by a certified orthodontist resulted in statistically significantly better treatment results with more Class I relationships and less crowding. The remaining degree of orthodontic treatment need was also lower in subjects treated by a certified orthodontist. A moderate to very high degree of treatment need (DHC degrees III to V) was present in 59% of the subjects treated by a general practitioner but only 29% of the subjects treated by a certified orthodontist. Conclusion: Orthodontic treatment improves general dental health. Treatment performed by a certified orthodontist leads to better treatment results and lower remaining treatment need compared with that performed by a general practitioner.