A statistically significant level of agreement was observed between young adults and orthodontist perception (kappa = 0.14). A significant positive relationship existed between the young adult and orthodontist’s AC scores (r = 0.275, p < 0.001), and between young adult’s AC and DHC (r = 0.195, p < 0.001). The orthodontist’s AC was strongly related with the normative need (r = 0.743, p < 0.001), but only a moderate agreement was observed (kappa = 0.332, p < 0.001). Correlations between the young adult’s AC and gender (r = 0.143, p = 0.007), EPQ-E were also observed (r = − 0.112, p = 0.037).
The results of the frequency measured according to young adult’s AC, orthodontist’s AC and DHC of the IOTN are shown in Table
2. Orthodontists perceived 63.8% to be in mild category with regards to AC (grade 1 to grade 4), which was lower than young adult’s self-perception, 30.2% to be in moderate category (grade 5 to grade 7), 6% to be in sever category (grade 8 to grade 10), which is higher compared to young adult’s self-perception. According to the normative need DHC, 36.5% of the participants were borderline need to seek orthodontic treatment, 24.1% was in a definite need for treatment. Table
3 shows the distribution of the perceived treatment need by both young adults and the orthodontists. The kappa test (kappa = 0.14,
p < 0.001) shows a certain level of agreement between young adults and orthodontists, even though the agreement is weak. A moderate agreement was observed between orthodontists perceived treatment need and normative need for treatment (kappa = 0.332,
p < 0.001) (Table
4). DHC was more critical than perceived judgments according to orthodontist’s AC. There was a correlation between the components of IOTN, young adult’s AC, orthodontist’s AC and DHC (Table
5). A significant positive relationship (
p < 0.001) between the young adult’s AC and orthodontist’s AC scores (
r = 0.275); young adult’s AC and the normative need DHC (
r = 0.195), the orthodontist perception and the normative need (
r = 0.743). Table
6 shows the correlations between the young adult’s AC and gender (
r = 0.143,
p = 0.007) and, EPQ-E (
r = − 0.112,
p = 0.037).
Table 2
Frequency of treatment need according to AC and DHC
1 | 137 (39.4) | 313 (89.9) | 222 (63.8) |
2 | 127 (36.5) | 23 (6.6) | 105 (30.2) |
3 | 84 (24.1) | 12 (3.4) | 21 (6.0) |
Total | 348 | 348 | 348 |
Table 3
Distribution of young adults perceived treatment need in relation to orthodontists perceived treatment need as evaluated by AC
Young adult’s AC | 1.00 | 213 | 86 | 14 | 313 |
2.00 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 23 |
3.00 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 12 |
Total | 222 | 105 | 21 | 348 |
Table 4
Distribution of orthodontist’s perceived treatment need in relation to normative treatment need
DHC | 1.00 | 136 | 1 | 0 | 137 |
2.00 | 81 | 46 | 0 | 127 |
3.00 | 5 | 58 | 21 | 84 |
Total | 222 | 105 | 21 | 348 |
Table 5
Correlation between orthodontist and young adult’s perception and normative need
Spearman’s correlation | young adult’s AC | 0.195** | 0.275** |
Orthodontist’s AC | 0.743** | 1.000 |
Table 6
Factors that correlate patient perception by IONT-AC
Spearman’s correlation | Young adult’s | .143** | −.112* | 0.027 | 0.064 |
0.007 | .037 | 0.621 | 0.235 |