Desire for orthodontic treatment and associated factors among adolescents in Southern Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the desire for orthodontic treatment and investigate associated factors among adolescents in southern Brazil.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 704 adolescents aged 12 and 13 years at municipal public schools in the city of Balneário Camboriú (southern Brazil). The adolescents answered a previously tested questionnaire addressing satisfaction with their dental appearance, speech function, chewing function, and the desire for orthodontic treatment.