Correlation of orthodontic treatment demand with treatment need assessed using two indices.

The orthodontic treatment need of 105 first year university students (51 males and 54 females, mean age 19.75 years) at the University of Hong Kong was assessed using the Occlusal Index (OI) and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). The results were compared with the subjects' orthodontic treatment demand derived from a questionnaire. The OI assessment correlated better with the individuals' own perceptions of appearance than did the IOTN, and the treatment need indicated by the OI also correlated better with the individuals' actual treatment demands.