Relationship between index of orthodontic treatment need dental health component (IOTN-DHC) and caries prevalence in school-age children

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to investigate the relationship between caries prevalence and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need Dental Health Component (IOTN-DHC) in school-age children who live in the dentistless area and to consider the effective way to reduce the potential progression of malocclusion with the growth through the dental survey in Arbulag district, Khövsgöl province, Mongolia.

Materials and methods: The 95 school-age children (49 males, 46 females) who participated in the study were born in and were residents of Arbulag district, Khövsgöl province, Mongolia. The mean ages of the participants were 8.3 years (y) ± 1.7 y for males and 8.8 y ± 1.7 y for females. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to determine the sex difference for the dmf/DMF index. The relationship between the IOTON-DHC and the dmf/DMF index was statistically examined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

Results: Regarding the dmf/DMF index, no sex difference was observed. There were significant, fair positive correlations between the IOTON-DHC grade and F; between the IOTON-DHC grade and DMF index in males. There were significant, fair positive correlations between the IOTON-DHC grade and M; between the IOTON-DHC grade and DMF index in females.

Conclusions: Significant, fair positive correlations were found between the caries prevalence and the grade of malocclusion. Thus, prevention and early treatment of dental caries in a mixed dentition may be effective to reduce the potential progression of malocclusions in dentistless area.