Orthodontic treatment need in Dubai school adolescents: a study of 20,000 school-age adolescents in 66 public and private schools comparing orthodontic treatment need by gender and ethnicity.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to compare and contrast the orthodontic treatment needs of Dubai school-age school age children as a function of gender and ethnicity.

Methods: A total of 20,880 subjects were screened in 66 public and private school located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The study sample was grouped according to seven geographic regions. The total sample included 9,765 females and 11,115 males. Ages ranged from 9.08 years to 24.4 years with an overall mean age of 14.5 years. Calibrated dentists examined school age children using Peer Assessment Rating Index (PAR). PAR scores were translated to Index for Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) scores based upon the description of each of the 31 IOTN line item descriptions that constitute IOTN grades from 1 to 5. Upon completion, statistical comparison of the study variables by gender and ethnicity was applied.

Results: Evaluation of IOTN grade by gender demonstrated significantly higher male (2.52) than female (2.47, p=0.002) grade; comparison of IOTN grade by region showed South Asia (2.58) significantly higher than Middle East (2.43). IOTN grade was highest for South Asia males (2.62) which was significantly higher than South Asia females (2.55, p=0.023) and higher than both Middle East males and females (2.45 and 2.41, p=.000). Moreover, average South Asia female IOTN grade was significantly higher (p=0.000) than for both Middle East males and females. Conclusions 1. In Dubai school-aged adolescents, 53.2% of the study sample would benefit from orthodontic treatment and 14.4% were profiled as "treatment require". 2. Within the Middle East region, UAE subjects had higher mean IOTN grade than subjects from Iran, Syria and Yemen. 3. India males had significantly higher mean IOTN grades than Middle East male and female subjects from UAE, Iran, Syria, and Yemen. 4. India females had significantly higher mean IOTN grades than Middle East female subjects from UAE, Iran, Syria, and Yemen. It may be concluded that males and females from India have the greatest orthodontic treatment need in Dubai public and private schools.