Dental appearance and orthodontic services assessed by 15-16-year-old adolescents in eastern Finland

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the orthodontic services provided by a Finnish health centre, by determining 280 15-16-year-old adolescents' satisfaction with their own dental appearance and general oral health status, and their opinions on certain aspects of orthodontic treatment. Forty-two per cent of adolescents had received or were receiving orthodontic treatment. Most children were satisfied with the alignment of their teeth, but satisfaction was higher in groups with no history of orthodontic treatment, or with completed treatment. The enhancement of appearance and improvement of function were mentioned most often as the most important reasons for starting treatment. Dental casts of 75 randomly selected adolescents were assessed by an orthodontist using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), and assessments by the Aesthetic Component of IOTN were compared with the adolescents' own satisfaction. Most adolescents had realistic views about their dental appearance and orthodontic treatment need. Subjects with orthodontic treatment need were found in the groups both with completed treatment and with no treatment experience.