Effectiveness of Training Dental Students in Two Occlusal Indices

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of students in a U.S. dental school to learn and apply two indices of orthodontic need: the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON). Dental students were randomly selected and separated into three groups: control, IOTN, and ICON. Each evaluated thirty casts that had previously been evaluated by a panel of thirteen orthodontists to develop a gold standard of orthodontic treatment need for these casts. Students re-evaluated the same thirty casts after IOTN and ICON training for their own group, while the control group did not receive any training. Logistic regression of pre-and post-training agreement with the gold standard was calculated for each group to create a clear quadratic relationship. Signiicant differences were not found between pre-and post-training evaluation for either the IOTN or the ICON groups as compared to the control. However, the IOTN group did show more improvement when compared with the ICON group. This study demonstrates that the use of the IOTN index improved assessment in predoctoral dental students to determine orthodontic treatment need.Dr. Cubas is a

Orthodontic Treatment Need Among Saudi Arabia Population in Makkah City.

“…These shortcomings of the IOTN indicate the need to study the appropriateness of the IOTN or ICON as an index for the Saudi Arabians or even to develop a new index that suits such population. 7 The results have also shown less awareness and appreciation of the severity of malocclusion among patients seeking treatment in a governmental dental clinic, when compared to those paying for their treatment at private dental polyclinics. 14,19 This could explain the lack of compliance seen among those patients.…”

“…The IOTN and the AC were also compared using the Chi-Square and were correlated using Spearman's Correlation coefficient. 6,7,9 Results:-…”

“…Previous studies have shown differences between patients' and professionals' perception on orthodontic treatment need. 1,7,9 It seems that normative or actual need as assessed by dental professionals may not be linked to patients' perceptions unless the condition has progressed sufficiently to be symptomatic. Several indices were developed to evaluate malocclusion, such as the IOTN, PAR (Peer Assessment Rating Index) and ICON (Index of Complexity, outcome and Need).…”

“…However, each method has its limitations: most treatment need indices do not assess the prognosis of untreated malocclusions and related symptoms, and these indices may need revalidation overtime. 3,7,10 Past studies have used various indices to investigate orthodontic treatment need in different populations. The IOTN is most frequently used, especially among researchers in the Middle and Far East.…”