Comparative evaluation of preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment need in children aged 6, 9 and 12 years in Central India

Abstract

Background: Preventive and interceptive orthodontics are most commonly advocated in patients to reduce the prevalence of malocclusion. The objective assessment of malocclusion is crucial to document the prevalence and complexity of cases. To determine this critical aspect of treating malocclusion, numerous indices have been developed over the years that determine the need for orthodontic treatment. The index for preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment need (IPION) is one such index that calculates the need of a patient to undergo preventive and interceptive procedures. Due to the paucity of studies that compare this important aspect of preventing malocclusion in different age groups, we have conducted this study. Methods: A total of 384 children aged 6, 9 and 12 years were divided into three groups and evaluated for their need to undergo treatment. The IPION was used to determine this treatment need. The mean IPION score was used to classify the patient into, ‘no need’, ‘moderate need’ and ‘definite need’ of treatment. The children in each group were also divided according to their biological sex. The numbers of children in each group were then compared using Chi-squared test and the mean IPION scores were compared using ANOVA. Results: In the group of 6-year-old children, 63.28% of them needed some type of treatment, in the group of 9-year-old children, 71.88% of them needed treatment and in the group of 12-year-old children, 59.37% of the children needed treatment. Conclusions: The results of the study showed a high proportion of children requiring preventive and interceptive treatment. It was also noted that there was no difference in the treatment need in 6- and 9-year-old children, but it decreased in the 12-year-old group. The study also concluded that the mean IPION scores in boys aged 6 years old was significantly greater than girls aged 6 years old.