Background and Aim: Dental caries and malocclusion are among the most common
chronic dental diseases in childhood. The aim of present study was to assess the severity of
dental caries and orthodontic treatment needs and the relation between them in
a sample of
10- to 12-year-old Damascus schoolchildren.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1428 children (677 males and 751
females), all were in the late mixed dentitions and orthodontically untreated. Their dental
health status was assessed using DMFT index and need for orthodontic treatment by the
dental health component of the index of orthodontic treatment need (DHC-IOTN).
Analytical statistics were calculated using 2-sample t-test, Chi-square, One-way ANOVA
and Bonferroni tests. All the results were judged at a 95% confidence level.
Results: The overall mean of DMFT was 4.4±3.2 without significant differences
between males and females (p=0.705). Extreme and severe need for orthodontic treatment
(grades 4 and 5 of IOTN) was registered in 341 subjects (23.88%), without significant
differences between males and females (p=0.710). The severity of dental caries was
significantly greater among patients with more severe grades of orthodontic treatment
need.
Conclusions: The DHC-IOTN index is reliable and userfriendly, which can be used
for orthodontic epidemiological studies. There is significant relation between higher
DMFT index and orthodontic treatment need. Therefore, early treatment and preventive
national programmes is strongly advised.
