Prevalence of malocclusion and need for orthodontic treatment in Swiss army recruits in the years

The prevalence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment were studied in 421 Swiss army recruits in the year 1996. The results were compared with the findings in a similar study of 757 recruits, done in the year 1985. The malocclusion prevalence and the need for treatment were evaluated with the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index for Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). The examination of the 1996 sample was done clinically and of the 1985 sample from dental casts. The prevalences of increased overjet, contact point displacements (crowding or spacing) and deep bite were significantly lower in the 1996 than in the 1985 sample. The need for orthodontic treatment both according to the DHC and to the AC was significantly lower in 1996 than in 1985. More than half of the men examined in 1996 had no need for orthodontic treatment according to the DHC, 27 per cent had a moderate need and 14 per cent a clear need for treatment. When judged with the AC no need for treatment was found in 84 per cent, a moderate need in 13 per cent and a clear need in 3 per cent of the men. When judged with both components of the index 21 per cent of the men were classified as needing treatment i.e., the 14 per cent in need of treatment according to the DHC plus 7 per cent of the men who had a moderate need according to DHC and simultaneously a moderate or clear need according to the AC. We suggest that the lower need for treatment in 1996 compared with 1985 was due to more men having received orthodontic treatment (44 against 33 per cent) in 1996.