Establishing malocclusion severity levels on the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) scale

Abstract

The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) is an orthodontic index based on socially defined aesthetic standards. It is useful in both epidemiological surveys to identify unmet need for orthodontic treatment and as a screening device to determine priority for subsidized orthodontic treatment. An earlier study established the score of 36 on the DAI scale to identify handicapping malocclusions. The purpose of the present study was to determine decision points on the DAI scale that identify malocclusion severity levels less severe than handicapping. Two sources of data were used: 1) The frequency distribution of DAI scores on a probability sample of 1306 study models representing the untreated occlusions found in half a million adolescents. 2) The percent distribution of US youths aged 12-17 by specified case severity reported in an assessment of the occlusion of youths by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The decision points separating specific case severities on the DAI scale were determined by relating the proportions of the NCHS population with specified case severities to the cumulative percentages of the frequency distribution of DAI scores on the 1306 models. The NCHS report found 45.8 percent of the sample to have normal or minor malocclusion with no need or slight need for treatment. DAI scores 25 and below corresponded to that proportion of the sample. The NCHS report found 25.2 percent of the sample to have definite malocclusion with treatment being elective. DAI scores between 26 and 30 corresponded to that proportion of the sample. The NCHS report found 13 percent of the population to have severe malocclusion with treatment highly desirable. Fifteen percent were included in this category. DAI scores 31 to 35 corresponded to that proportion of the sample.

Impact of oral health on physical and psychosocial dimensions: an analysis using structural equation modeling

“…The section on normative conditions of oral health included the following variables: number of teeth needing treatment (discrete numerical), number of filled teeth (discrete numerical), number of missing teeth (discrete numerical), dental aesthetic index -DAI (continuous numerical) 29 , and community periodontal index -CPI (0 = healthy periodontium; 1 = presence of postprobing bleeding; 2 = presence of calculus; 3 = 4 to 5mm pocket; 4 = pocket 6mm or more) 26 . Note: 0 = never; 1 = rarely; 2 = sometimes; 3 = repeatedly; 4 = always.…”

Hubungan Penilaian Persepsi Estetika Oral Dengan Keadaan Maloklusi Menggunakan Oral Subjective Index Scale (Oasis) Dan Dental Aesthetic Index (Dai) (Studi Pada Remaja Usia 16-17 Tahun Di Sman Kota Banda Aceh)

“…Sampel yang digunakan adalah siswa-siswi usia 16 Berdasarkan Tabel 8. dapat dilihat bahwa dari pengukuran model studi menggunakan DAI diperoleh subjek dengan maloklusi ringan berjumlah 64 siswa, maloklusi sedang berjumlah 20 siswa, maloklusi parah dan sangat parah keduanya berjumlah 8 siswa, sehingga penjumlahan dari keempat variabel dihasilkan 100 siswa.…”

“…15 Indeks OASIS ini kemudian dihubungkan dengan Dental Aesthetics Index (DAI) yang berfungsi untuk mengevaluasi komponen estetika dan anatomi maloklusi. 16 Berdasarkan latar belakang di atas maka peneliti tertarik untuk melakukan penelitian ini di sekolah menengah atas negeri kota Banda Aceh.…”

Impact of the first eight months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients

“…16 This index provides four outcome possibilities: slight treatment need (#25), elective treatment (26 to 30), highly desirable treatment (31 to 35), and mandatory treatment ($36).…”