A comparison of the severity of malocclusion between two centres in the United Kingdom and Malaysia: a preliminary investigation

• Main Authors: Ghani, S.H.A., Sundralingam, S.
• Format: Article
• Published: 1995
• Subjects: Medical technology; RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/2107/; http://ejum.fsktm.um.edu.my/ArticleInformation.aspx?ArticleID=536
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

The preliminary investigation was carried out to assess the severity of malocclusion between two centres, the dental schools in Leeds, United Kingdom and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 99 study models were analysed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (lOIN). Thestudy models were of patients aged 8to 15 years, equally distributed between male and female patients taken from the undergraduate and staff clinics. Forty nine and fifty study models were analysed at the Leeds Dental School and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, respectively. From this observation, it appeared that the sample of patients treated at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kuala Lumpur presented approximately 25% higher with cases in the severe end of the malocclusion based on the dental health component and almost 70% more with the aesthetic component. Factors contributing to this finding are discussed.