Impact of Dental Aesthetic Index characteristics on the severity levels of malocclusion in a non-White population

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics Vol. 162; no. 5; pp. e252 - e256
• Main Authors: Silva, Daniela Alcântara Fernandes, Carneiro, Diego Patrik Alves, Nabarrette, Mariana, Vedovello Filho, Mário, Santamaria, Milton, Vedovello, Silvia A.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-11-2022
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2022.08.011

This study evaluated the impact of the esthetic and occlusal characteristics of the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) on the need for orthodontic treatment in a non-White population.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1296 non-White adolescents aged 12 years. DAI was the outcome variable (DAI 1 and 2 and DAI 3 and 4). The independent variables were categorized on the basis of the occlusal esthetic characteristics evaluated by DAI (tooth absence, crowding, spacing, midline diastema, maxillary misalignment, mandibular misalignment, maxillary anterior overjet, mandibular overjet, anterior open bite, and anteroposterior molar relationship). Simple logistic regression models were adjusted for the outcome, and the raw odds ratios were estimated. Variables with a P value of <0.20 for individual analyses were tested in a multiple logistic regression model, with P ≤0.05 remaining.
A total of 1296 adolescents (764 girls and 532 boys) were evaluated; 1067 (82.3%) had DAI 1 or 2 (minor to a moderate need for orthodontic treatment), and 229 (17.7%) had DAI 3 or 4 (defined need for orthodontic treatment). The results showed that adolescents with diastema, maxillary irregularity, mandibular irregularity, mandibular overjet, anterior open bite, and the altered molar relationship had 5.34, 2.36, 2.63, 3.56, 8.73, and 5.16 times more likelihood to have DAI 3 or 4 (P ≤0.05), respectively.
Diastema, maxillary and mandibular misalignment, mandibular overjet, anterior open bite, and anteroposterior molar relationship were the characteristics that influenced the determination of the need for orthodontic treatment in a non-White population using the DAI index.
•We evaluated the impact of DAI esthetic and occlusal characteristics on orthodontic need.•A total of 1296 non-White adolescents aged 12 years were evaluated.•Diastema, maxillary and mandibular irregularity, mandibular overjet, open bite, and molar relationship were associated with DAI 3 or 4.•These characteristics influenced orthodontics need in non-White adolescents.