Evaluation of the orthodontic treatment needs of 12-13 year - old students of Gorgan city via IOTN index, 2002-2003

Determination of need to orthodontic treatment is one of the main problems in our daily practice. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the orthodontic treatment needs of 12 – 13 year old students in Gorgan in years 2002-2003, using IOTN (index of orthodontic treatment need). Methods & Materials: A descriptive study using the technique of observation and interview has been performed by means of chart, ruler, tongue blade and color photographs of aesthetic component of IOTN. The method of sampling was cluster sampling and 793 individuals of urban and rural school children in Gorgan were examined. According to dental health component (DHC) of ITON, 16.2 percent of school children showed great need and 16.9 percent moderate need to treatment and the frequency of slight or no need was 66.6 percent. The aesthetic component (AC) of IOTN in school children resulted in 7.1 percent great need, 20.9 percent moderate need and 71.9 percent no need. This study showed that the differences between IOTN values for boys and girls were not statistically significant the orthodontic treatment need in rural school children as significantly greater than urban school children, but most of them had no need or had slight need of orthodontic treatment.