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Two reliable and valid occlusal indices have been developed to assess treatment need (Index of Treatment Need, IOTN) and the standard of treatment (The PAR Index, Peer Assessment Rating). The IOTN assesses both dental aesthetics and dental health need. The PAR index provides a single summary score for the overall alignment and occlusion. The difference between the pre- and post-treatment scores reflects the degree of improvement and the success of orthodontic intervention and active treatment. Several practical uses of the indices are described: the estimation of treatment need in an unselected and a referred population and the assessment of the standard of treatment in the Hospital and General Dental Services. It has been suggested that the use of the occlusal indices would offer several advantages: (1) uniformity in prescribing patterns, (2) safeguards for the patient, (3) patient counselling and (4) monitoring and promoting standards.

The factors which influence the uptake of orthodontic treatment are reviewed with respect to the features and aspirations of the consumers (patients and parents) and the providers (dentists, orthodontists and health system). It appears that the assessment of orthodontic treatment need is influenced by many variables relating to opportunity and demand for treatment; this results in a marked lack of uniformity in treatment uptake.

Out of a sample of 1210 orthodontic patients treated within the General Dental Services in England and Wales, a high proportion showed no improvement. Upper and lower fixed appliances had the greatest influence on the outcome of treatment in terms of aesthetics, dental health need and standards. When treatment was analysed according to the appliance used, there were no statistically significant differences in the standard of treatment undertaken by specialist orthodontists and general dental practitioners. Methods for improving British orthodontic standards are considered.