Prevalence of malocclusion in 14-year old Greek children using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).
P.G. Hatzopoulos
Hellenic Orthodontic Review 1999;2:99-117.

The aim of this epidemiological investigation was to study malocclusion in the 14-year old population nationwide. The orthodontic index DAI was chosen as a measurement means. The DAI is proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The use of the DAI has the advantage of grading malocclusion, thus providing with the possibility of objectively assessing the priorities for orthodontic treatment care. The study included a random and representative sample of 4451 pupils (3% of the corresponding total schoolchildren population) from the 9 health districts (H.D.) of Greece. 488 pupils were excluded because they did not fulfill the study criteria (they had either completed or were undergoing active orthodontic treatment). The selection of schools - sampling points (s.p.) was performed with a special computer program using the method of random numbers. The total number of sampling points nationwide was 24. The number of sampling points and pupils per H.D. was determined based on the WHO regulations and the sampling methodology. A permanent examiner - the author - performed all examinations. Based on the DAI criteria, 52.53% of the pupils presented varying degrees of malocclusion. This value is in agreement with similar studies performed in the USA and 10 other countries using the same index. The highest percentage of malocclusion was found in the 8th H.D. "Aegean Islands" and the lowest in the 6th H.D. "East Macedonia". Percentages for orthodontic treatment of medium, high and very high resulting from the DAI scale are 28.2, 9.84 and 14.49 respectively. Although the percentage of orthodontic treatment need is the same for both sexes, the percentage of girls who received orthodontic treatment was twice that of boys. Orthodontic treatment care in pupils of private schools was four times that of pupils in public schools.

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