Orthodontic concern of parents compared with orthodontic treatment need assessed by Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concerns for orthodontic treatment by parents of adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria for their children, and to compare the observations with objectively determined orthodontic treatment need using DAI. A total of 271 students aged 12-18 years (mean 14.8 +/- 1.1) drawn from five secondary schools in Ibadan were clinically examined while their parents were asked about their opinions in a questionnaire. About 61.3% of the adolescents had normal or minor malocclusions needing no treatment. The rest needed orthodontic treatments ranging from definite to mandatory treatment needs. No sex difference was noted (P > 0.05). Their psychosocial treatment need indicated by parental orthodontic concern revealed that 86% of them needed no orthodontic treatment. Most parents (87.1%) perceived dental aesthetics to be equally important for girls and boys and no sex difference was observed in their orthodontic concern (P > 0.05). Parents orthodontic concern had significant weak correlation with DAI scores. The results suggest a need for more orthodontic awareness in our community and confirm that there is a difference of opinion on orthodontic treatment need between laypersons and orthodontists, as would be expected.