Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON) in Dubai school-aged adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to epidemiologically assess the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in school-aged adolescents in Dubai using the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON). Null hypothesis tested was no significant differences in ICON scores among Dubai students as a function of gender or geographic/ethnic background. Materials and Methods: The sample was 17,763 adolescents with nearly equal by gender; India and the United Arab Emirates were represented about the same. Scores for malocclusion from Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index evaluations combined with the esthetic component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) comprised the ICON score. Results: Male ICON scores were significantly greater than female scores. Three scores contributing to ICON were significantly higher in males, i.e., buccal anterior-posterior occlusion, incisor overbite, and esthetic component. ICON scores for South Asia were significantly higher than the Middle East, i.e., 59.9 versus 52.4, P = 0.000. ICON scores were no different for the UAE males and females but otherwise significantly different (>) as follows: Indian males > Indian females > UAE males = UAE females. Conclusions: Dubai school-aged adolescents treatment need is the same for the UAE males and females, but there is a significantly greater orthodontic treatment need for males and females from India.