Comparison of IOTN and DAI for Use with Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip and Palate Patients
Author(s): Ahmed Mohammed Alassiry*
Abstract
Background: The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) makes it possible to quickly and simply determine whether a patient or group of patients needs orthodontic treatment and how severe their malocclusion is. The DAI stands out among other indices because it generates a single rating for a specific patient that considers the subject’s function and esthetic simultaneously. Another well-known measure in orthodontics is the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Aim: To compare the effectiveness of the IOTN and DAI among non-syndromic Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) patients and determine the value of the DAI in assessing orthodontic treatment requirements and outcomes for patients with non-syndromic CLP. Methods and Materials: The research dataset included 160 diagnostic models randomly chosen from individuals diagnosed with non-syndromic CLP. Good-quality models with permanent dentition were selected for the study. The sample was populated from collected casts by simple randomization conducted by a single researcher involved in the study, and measurements were made repeatedly. The DAI score was calculated as the sum of 10 components multiplied by their weight, adding the constant of 13. IOTN evaluation was also conducted. Results: Since the patients were in the CLP category, they were considered Grade 5p according to the IOTN. In this study, 69 of the study model (43.12%) were found to have a DAI score ?25, 34 (21.25%) had a DAI score of 26–30, 13 (8.12%) had a DAI score of 31–35, and44 (27.5%) had a DAI score of ?36. Fifty-five study models 35 male, 20 female) had one missing tooth, 15 (1 male 1 female had two missing teeth and eight (7 male, 1 female) had three missing teeth. Conclusion: The DAI can be used to successfully identify individuals who still need care after receiving an orthodontic intervention and, as an additional metric to IOTN, can help establish whether the therapy was successful. It may also be employed to contrast models before and after therapy. As an alternative to the IOTN, the DAI attempts to identify children who require orthodontic treatment and rank their needs in order to improve their appearance and psychosocial standing.