Comparsion Of The Subjective Need For Orthodontic Treatment With Its Affecting Factors Between Local Students And Foreign Students In Nanjing

Objective:To compare the need for orthodontic treatment between local students and foreign students in Nanjing as well as analyze the affecting factors.Materials and Methods:A total of 210 persons studying in Nanjing were selected for the study. Among them,105 were foreign students and 105 were local students. Two universities, Nanjing University and Southeast University were selected for the study. Data were collected with the help of a questionnaire and clinical examination was done to assess the ICON index which was used to assess the orthodontic test. The independent variables which are statistically significant are screened using logistic regression analysis with the method of forward stepwise and regarded as factors affecting the subjective need for orthodontic treatment. The p value is taken as p<0.05.Results:52.4% local students and 56.2% foreign students were found to have an ICON index of<29. Very high ICON index> 77 indicating the highest complexity of treatment were found to be almost the same in both the groups (2.6% local students and 1.9% foreign students respectively).54.3% local students were satisfied with their teeth whereas this number was higher in the foreign students group (71.5%).95.2% local students thought that straight teeth were important whereas only 87.6% of foreign students thought so.68.6% local students thought orthodontic treatment was to improve facial appearance whereas only 46.2% foreign students thought so. The prevalence of the desire for orthodontic treatment was 18%(19/105) in local students and 38%(40/105) in foreign students. Aesthetic component (P=0.01), upper arch crowding (P=0.00), crossbite (P=0.00) and incisor overbite (P=0.00) of the ICON components had a great significance and were associated with the desire and plan for undergoing orthodontic treatment in both groups. Importance of well aligned teeth and the self-perception of psychosocial impact of malocclusion were the two main important factors influencing the subjective orthodontic treatment need in both the groups.Conclusions:ICON index showed that the local students and foreign students have almost the same degree of complexity, outcome and need for orthodontic treatment. This may be because our research was concentrated at Universities where the dental awareness is high. The importance of straight teeth and the self-perception of the psychosocial impact of malocclusion were the main two factors influencing the subjective orthodontic treatment need in both the groups. Some cultural differences existed between the two groups. The local students gave greater importance to aesthetics for undergoing orthodontic treatment whereas improving chewing function was of greater importance in the foreign students’ category. Visiting dentist is less common in local students as compared to foreign students.