An Investigation of Orthodontic Treatment Outcomes

Objective: This study was undertaken to establish the standard of treatment outcome for orthodontic patients with a class II div I malocclusion who had been treated by Postgraduate Students at the University of Health Sciences. Method: This retrospective study utilised the Peer Assessment Rating Index(PAR) to quantify the severity before and following treatment. The Index scores features of irregularity of a patient occlusion from study models. The selection criteria must have a class II div I malocclusion, have been treated by one of the four Postgraduate students who had started their training in 2004 and have pre and post treatment study models. The exclusion criteria were incomplete records or damaged models. The PAR scoring was undertaken by one individual who had undergone calibration training. A reproducibility study was also undertaken. The records of 42 were identified 13 males and 29 females. The average age being 16.2 yrs ,S.D.± 4.5 range 11-27. The O.J. was 8mm, S.D. ±2.02 range 4.5-12. The majority of patients had undergone treatment with upper and lower fixed appliances 39 of 42 with 10 additionally having worn a functional appliance. Results: The average PAR score reduction was 25.2, S.D.± 8.9 range 10-44. The Percentage Score reduction was 86%, S.D.± 14.4 range 43-98%. Of the 42 cases 28 were categorised as ‘greatly improved', 13 as ‘Improved' and only 1 as ‘worse no different'. Conclusion:These findings support the view that the standard of treatment was high and compares favourably with that of other providers of orthodontic treatment internationally.