Orthodontic Treatment Need and Complexity among 13-15 Year-Old Schoolchildren in Kerman, Iran

Effective and informed planning for orthodontic services in any population requires assessment of the orthodontic treatment need and complexity. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to assess these parameters using index of complexity, outcome, and need (ICON) in an Iranian schoolchildren population. In total, 600 randomly selected individuals (300 girls, 300 boys; aged 13-15 years) participated in this study. The treatment need (ICON score>43) and the grades of complexity were compared between two genders and in different age groups. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were applied for data analysis considering p< 0.05. Out of 45% of the population found in need for orthodontic treatment, there was no significant difference between the two genders, but the 15-year-old individuals needed treatment significantly more than the individuals with 13 and 14 years of age. The mean ICON score was 44.3±20.28, which showed no significant difference between the two genders. The majority of the cases (34%) were categorized in the easy compartment in terms of complexity and 18% had difficult or very difficult grades of complexity. The genders and age groups exhibited no significant difference in terms of the complexity grade. Although half of the studied cases needed treatment, nearly one-fifth had difficult or very difficult complexity grade, which indicates the need for specialist care.