Perception – A comparison of professional assessments- A pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Beauty and aesthetics are subjective phenomenon.  In orthodontics, beauty is collaborated with function and a compromised function is known to lead towards detrimental effects in the long term.  The measurement of aesthetics in orthodontics is through the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).  This is a universal scale which is easy to use for all professionals dealing with child care.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional validation study was conducted in the dental clinics of Karachi at Aga Khan University Hospital, Jinnah Medical and Dental College and Fatima Jinnah Dental College on a sample size of 17 professionals from July to August 2012. Each subject was shown a set of 32 pictures which they scored against the aesthetic component of the IOTN.  The principal investigator assessed the normative score from the study casts using the IOTN-DHC. Data collected was analyzed using Kruskal- Wallis, Bland- Altmann, Paired sample t- test and Kappa Cohen’s. Intra examiner reliability was assessed using Spearman’s correlation.

Results: The sample size consisted of 24% males (mean age 28.25±2.06 years), and 76% females ((mean age 31.92±9.19 years).  A statistically significant difference was obtained between orthodontists’, pedodontists’ and restorative dentists perception for a single image (p- value 0.005).  Similarly a difference in perception of the three groups with normative need (p- value- 0.002 [orthodontists], 0.03 [pedodontists], 0.05 [restorative dentists]); was also obtained.

Conclusions:

• There is no significant difference in perception between orthodontists, pedodontists and restorative dentists.

Orthodontists, pedodontists and restorative dentists overestimate the patients’ pretreatment condition as compared to normative treatment need.