Patterns of orthodontic treatment of children in Australia: a national population-based study

	Study sample		Children who have visited an orthodontist
			Yes			No
	n	col % (95%CI)	n	row % (95%CI)	col % (95%CI)	n	row % (95%CI)	col % (95%CI)
Age (Years)
5-8	10599	40.2 (38.4–42.0)	405	4.3 (3.7–4.9)	10.0 (8.5–11.7)	9268	95.7 (95.1–96.3)	45.5 (43.7–47.4)
9-11	7561	29.6 (28.4–30.9)	1370	18.5 (17.0–20.1)	32.4 (29.2–35.7)	5667	81.5 (79.9–83.0)	29.1 (27.9–30.3)
12-14	6504	30.2 (27.6–32.9)	2022	31.7 (29.6–33.9)	57.7 (53.6–61.7)	4125	68.3 (66.1–70.4)	25.4 (23.0–27.9)
Sex
Male	12348	51.2 (49.8–52.6)	1722	14.6 (13.5–15.8)	44.0 (40.8–47.3)	9725	85.4 (84.2–86.5)	52.6 (51.2–54.0)
Female	12316	48.8 (47.4–50.2)	2075	19.4 (17.7–21.2)	56.0 (52.7–59.2)	9335	80.6 (78.8–82.3)	47.4 (46.0–48.8)
Indigenous Identity
Non-indigenous	23113	95.1 (94.3–95.8)	3641	17.2 (16.0–18.5)	97.2 (96.2–98.0)	18054	82.8 (81.5–84.0)	95.8 (95.1–96.4)
Indigenous	1102	4.9 (4.2–5.7)	109	11.9 (8.8–15.8)	2.8 (2.0–3.8)	736	88.1 (84.2–91.2)	4.2 (3.6–4.9)
Parents’ Country of Birth
Australian Born	16146	64.6 (62.6–66.4)	2543	17.8 (16.4–19.2)	67.1 (64.6–69.6)	12428	82.2 (80.8–83.6)	63.9 (51.8–65.9)
Overseas Born	7913	35.4 (33.6–37.4)	1187	15.8 (14.3–17.3)	32.9 (30.4–35.4)	6227	84.2 (82.7–85.7)	36.1 (34.1–38.2)
Parental Education
School	4767	28.9 (27.3–30.6)	611	13.5 (11.9–15.2)	22.7 (20.4–25.2)	3986	86.5 (84.8–88.1)	29.8 (28.1–31.6)
Vocational Training	4213	22.5 (21.4–23.6)	653	17.1 (15.3–19.1)	22.7 (20.3–25.3)	3451	82.9 (80.9–84.7)	22.5 (21.3–23.7)
Tertiary Education	14160	48.6 (46.6–50.6)	2490	19.0 (17.5–20.6)	54.6 (51.4–57.7)	11338	81.0 (79.4–82.5)	47.7 (45.6–49.8)
Household Income
Low	6390	31.9 (29.9–33.9)	754	12.0 (10.8–13.4)	22.4 (20.1–24.9)	5438	88.0 (86.6–89.2)	33.5 (31.4–35.6)
Medium	9550	38.7 (37.3–40.1)	1525	17.0 (15.6–18.5)	39.1 (36.6–41.6)	7789	83.0 (81.5–84.4)	38.7 (37.2–40.3)
High	6290	29.4 (27.5–31.4)	1310	22.0 (19.9–24.3)	38.5 (35.4–41.7)	4859	78.0 (75.7–80.1)	27.8 (25.8–29.8)
Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI)*	n=5112
Normal/Mild Malocclusion	2577	48.4 (45.9–50.9)	766	33.0 (29.7–36.6)	48.9 (44.8–53.0)	1661	67.0 (63.4–70.3)	48.5 (45.6–51.4)
Definite Malocclusion	1170	23.3 (21.7–25.1)	320	26.3 (22.8–30.2)	18.7 (16.2–21.5)	770	73.7 (69.8–77.2)	25.7 (23.5–27.9)
Severe Malocclusion	709	14.2 (12.9–15.6)	231	29.4 (24.5–34.9)	12.4 (10.2–15.0)	428	70.6 (65.1–75.5)	14.6 (12.9–16.4)
Handicapping Malocclusion	656	14.0 (12.5–15.7)	309	46.6 (40.5–52.7)	20.0 (17.0–23.4)	306	53.4 (47.3–59.5)	11.2 (9.6–13.1)
Total	24664	100	3797	16.9 (15.8–18.2)	100	19060	83.1 (81.8–84.2)	100

1* Includes only children aged ≥ 12, as the DAI is only used in the permanent dentition.

1 Col %, column percentage; CI, confidence interval; Row %, row percentage.

Table II.

Prevalence of orthodontic visit, type of orthodontic treatment received, and treatment provider, by age group, of children in Australia 2012-14

	Age group (years)						Study sample
	5 to 11			12 to 14
	n	row % (95%CI)	col% (95%CI)	n	row % (95%CI)	col% (95%CI)	n	row % (95%CI)	col% (95%CI)
Has visited an orthodontist
Yes	1775	42.3 (38.–46.4)	10.4 (9.5–11.3)	2022	57.7 (53.6–61.7)	31.7 (29.6–33.9)	3797	100	16.9 (15.8–18.2)
No	14935	74.6 (72.1–77.0)	89.6 (88.7–90.5)	4125	25.4 (23.0–27.9)	68.3 (66.1–70.4)	19060	100	83.1 (81.8–84.2)
Type of orthodontic treatment#
Cons. Only	930	49.3 (44.4–54.2)	4.7 (4.2–5.2)	770	50.7 (45.8–55.6)	10.9 (9.8–12.2)	1700	100	6.6 (6.0–7.1)
Rem. App.	410	37.8 (32.3–43.6)	2.5 (2.1–3.0)	581	62.2 (56.4–67.7)	9.5 (8.4–10.7)	991	100	4.6 (4.1–5.2)
Fix. App.	247	25.5 (21.0–30.6)	1.8 (1.4–2.2)	751	74.5 (69.4–79.0)	11.8 (10.6–13.2)	998	100	4.8 (4.3–5.5)
Exo	324	33.5 (28.4–39.1)	1.8 (1.6–2.2)	527	66.5 (60.9–71.6)	8.3 (7.3–9.4)	851	100	3.8 (3.4–4.3)
Rem. + Fix.	79	25.4 (18.9–33.3)	0.6 (0.5–0.9)	270	74.6 (66.7–81.1)	4.3 (3.6–5.1)	349	100	1.7 (1.5–2.1)
Rem. + Exo	82	25.5 (18.8–33.5)	0.4 (0.3–0.6)	177	74.5 (66.5–81.2)	2.9 (2.3–3.6)	259	100	1.2 (1.0–1.4)
Fixed + Extraction	66	18.7 (13.6–25.0)	0.4 (0.3–0.5)	262	81.3 (75.0–86.4)	4.0 (3.3–4.8)	328	100	1.5(1.3–1.8)
Rem. + Fix. + Exo	26	14.4 (8.7–22.8)	0.1 (0.1–0.2)	115	85.6 (77.2–91.3)	1.8 (1.4–2.4)	141	100	0.6 (0.5–0.8)
Type of orthodontic treatment*, #
Cons. Only	930	49.3 (44.4–54.2)	46.5 (42.7–50.4)	770	50.7 (45.8–55.6)	35.0 (32.0–38.1)	1700	100	39.9 (37.4–42.4)
Rem. App.	410	37.8 (32.3–43.6)	25.1 (21.8–28.7)	581	62.2 (56.4–67.7)	30.4 (27.4–33.6)	991	100	28.2 (25.8–30.6)
Fix. App.	247	25.5 (21.0–30.6)	17.7 (15.0–20.9)	751	74.5 (69.4–79.0)	38.0 (35.0–41.0)	998	100	29.4 (27.1–31.8)
Exo	324	33.5 (28.4–39.1)	18.1 (15.6–20.9)	527	66.5 (60.9–71.6)	26.8 (24.0–29.7)	851	100	23.1 (21.2–25.1)
Rem. + Fix.	79	25.4 (18.9–33.3)	6.3 (4.7–8.6)	270	74.6 (66.7–81.1)	13.6 (11.6–16.0)	349	100	10.6 (9.1–12.1)
Rem. + Exo	82	25.5 (18.8–33.5)	4.2 (3.2–5.7)	177	74.5 (66.5–81.2)	9.3 (7.5–11.4)	259	100	7.1 (6.0–8.5)
Fixed + Extraction	66	18.7 (13.6–25.0)	4.0 (3.0–5.5)	262	81.3 (75.0–86.4)	12.9 (11.0–15.0)	328	100	9.1 (7.9–10.5)
Rem. + Fix. + Exo	26	14.4 (8.7–22.8)	1.3 (0.8–2.2)	115	85.6 (77.2–91.3)	5.8 (4.5–7.5)	141	100	3.9 (3.1–4.9)
Treatment provider*, #
Public Clinic	144	46.7 (38.0–55.5)	7.7 (5.9–9.9)	119	53.3 (44.5–62.0)	6.7 (5.2–8.5)	263	100	7.1 (5.9–8.5)
Child and Youth Dental Clinic	138	60.4 (50.9–69.2)	7.2 (5.5–9.3)	88	39.6 (30.8–49.1)	3.4 (2.6–4.6)	226	100	5.0 (4.1–6.2)
Private General Dentist	166	38.1 (29.7–47.1)	10.2 (7.9–13.1)	237	61.9 (52.9–70.3)	12.3 (10.2–14.6)	403	100	11.4 (9.8–13.2)
Private Specialist	1378	40.7 (36.5–44.9)	75.2 (71.6–78.6)	1683	59.3 (55.1–63.5)	80.6 (77.6–83.3)	3061	100	78.3 (75.9–80.6)

1* The denominator includes children who have visited an orthodontist.

1# The categories are not mutually exclusive, as children can have multiple types of visits by different providers.

1 App., Appliance; Col %, column percentage; CI, confidence interval; Cons., Consultation; Exo, Extraction; Fix., Fixed, App; Row % = row percentage; Rem., Removable.

Prevalence of malocclusion by sociodemographic characteristics.

Prevalence of orthodontic visits by sociodemographic characteristics and malocclusion severity.

Appendix I

Type of orthodontic treatment, by treatment provider, among children in Australia 2012-14

	Type of treatment
	Consultation only			Removable appliance			Fixed appliance			Extractions
Treatment provider*	N	row %(95%CI)	col% (95%CI)	N	row % (95%CI)	col% (95%CI)	N	row % (95%CI)	col% (95%CI)	N	row % (95%CI)	col% (95%CI)
All participants
Public Clinic	114	38.2 (30.4–46.6)	7.1 (5.4–9.1)	70	28.2 (20.6–37.2)	7.4 (5.2–10.3)	35	17.2 (11.3–25.4)	4.3 (2.8–6.7)	98	39.1 (31.0–47.9)	12.5 (9.4–16.3)
Child and Youth Dental Clinic	111	44.9 (36.5–53.5)	5.7 (4.4–7.4)	51	22.6 (16.0–31.0)	4.1 (2.8–5.9)	31	14.0 (9.5–20.1)	2.4 (1.6–3.7)	69	34.5 (26.2–43.9)	7.6 (5.4–10.5)
Private General Dentist	152	33.9 (26.9–41.8)	9.7 (7.6–12.4)	136	34.5 (27.9–41.8)	14.0 (11.1–17.5)	122	30.8 (24.7–37.8)	12.0 (9.2–15.5)	156	34.7 (27.8–42.3)	17.1 (13.5–21.5)
Private Specialist	1437	42.1 (39.1–45.1)	82.5 (79.2–85.3)	852	31.2 (28.5–33.9)	86.4 (82.7–89.4)	923	34.3 (31.7–37.0)	91.4 (88.1–93.9)	697	23.8 (21.6–26.2)	80.5 (75.7–84.5)
5 to 11 years old
Public Clinic	61	28.8 (20.4–39.0)	5.0 (3.6–7.0)	36	31.0 (20.7–43.6)	10.0 (6.4–15.4)	13	18.0 (9.4–31.8)	8.3 (4.0–16.3)	52	39.7 (28.6–51.9)	17.6 (12.3–24.5)
Child and Youth Dental Clinic	77	49.2 (37.8–60.7)	7.7 (5.6–10.5)	21	19.8 (11.6–31.6)	5.7 (3.2–9.7)	12	10.9 (5.9–19.4)	4.5 (2.3–8.4)	35	29.2 (18.7–42.5)	11.5 (7.0–18.4)
Private General Dentist	71	33.3 (22.8–45.7)	7.4 (5.3–10.1)	53	34.5 (25.8–44.4)	14.1 (9.4–20.6)	25	19.1 (10.9–31.2)	11.1 (5.6–21.0)	62	35.5 (26.1–46.2)	19.9 (13.7–28.0)
Private Specialist	785	51.9 (47.3–56.5)	83.8 (79.5–87.3)	340	27.9 (24.0–32.1)	83.0 (77.0–87.8)	226	21.3 (17.8–25.2)	90.2 (82.5–94.8)	248	17.5 (14.9–20.5)	71.8 (62.2–79.7)
12 to 14 years old
Public Clinic	53	46.3 (34.9–58.1)	9.0 (6.3–12.6)	34	25.7 (16.4–38.0)	5.8 (3.6–9.1)	22	16.5 (9.5–27.0)	3.0 (1.7–5.1)	46	38.7 (27.9–50.7)	9.9 (6.6–14.5)
Child and Youth Dental Clinic	34	38.2 (25.9–52.3)	3.8 (2.4–5.9)	30	26.9 (17.5–39.0)	3.1 (2.0–4.7)	19	18.6 (10.9–29.9)	1.7 (1.0–2.9)	34	42.7 (30.0–56.4)	5.6 (3.7–8.3)
Private General Dentist	81	34.4 (25.3–44.8)	12.0 (8.6–16.6)	83	34.6 (25.3–45.2)	14.0 (10.5–18.4)	97	38.0 (29.3–47.6)	12.3 (9.3–16.1)	94	34.2 (24.8–44.9)	15.7 (11.6–21.1)
Private Specialist	652	35.4 (31.9–39.0)	81.1 (76.0–85.3)	512	33.4 (30.2–36.9)	88.4 (83.8–91.9)	697	43.3 (40.0–46.5)	91.8 (87.9–94.6)	449	28.1 (25.0–31.5)	84.8 (80.0–88.7)

1* The denominator includes children who have visited an orthodontist. The categories are not mutually exclusive, as children can receive multiple treatment types from different providers, Row %, row percentage; Col %, column percentage; CI, confidence interval.

Appendix II

Prevalence of planned extractions with appliances, by age, among children in Australia 2012-14

	Age groups												Total
	Age 5-11 Years						Age 12-14 Years						Total
	Appliance used						Appliance used						Appliance used
	Removable appliance		Fixed appliance		Total		Removable appliance		Fixed appliance		Total		Removable appliance		Fixed appliance		Total
	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)	N	col% (95%CI)
Planned extractions
Yes	82	17.1 (13.0-22.1)	66	22.6 (17.0-29.4)	324	1.8 (1.6-2.2)	177	30.4 (25.3-35.9)	262	33.8 (29.3-38.6)	527	8.3 (7.3-9.4)	259	25.3 (21.8-29.3)	328	31.0 (27.-34.9)	851	3.8 (3.4-4.3)
No	328	82.9 (77.9-87.0)	181	77.4 (70.6-83.0)	16992	98.2 (97.8-98.4)	404	69.6 (64.1-74.7)	489	66.2 (61.4-70.7)	5740	91.7 (90.6-92.7)	732	74.7 (70.7-78.2)	670	69.0 (65.1-72.7)	22732	96.2 (95.7-96.6)
Total	410	100	247	100	17316	100	581	100	751	100	6267	100	991	100	998	100	23583	100

Distribution of Household income by Malocclusion Severity

Distribution of Parental Education by Malocclusion Severity

Distribution of Sex by Malocclusion Severity

Distribution of indigenous Identity by Malocclusion Severity

Distribution of Household by Malocclusion and Orthodontic Visit

Distribution of Parental Education by Malocclusion Severity and Orthodontic Visit

Distribution of Sex by Malocclusion Severity and Orthodontic Visit

Distribution of indigenous Identity by Malocclusion Severity and Orthodontic Visit

References

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2024-0019 | Journal eISSN: 2207-7480 | Journal ISSN: 2207-7472

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Language: English

Page range: 22 - 39

Submitted on: May 1, 2024

Accepted on: Jul 1, 2024

Published on: Aug 9, 2024

Published by: Australian Society of Orthodontists Inc.

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Related subjects:

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Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other

© 2024 Philip Phu-Tan Nguyen, Maurice J. Meade, Lisa M. Jamieson, Dandara G. Haag, published by Australian Society of Orthodontists Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 40 (2024): Issue 2 (July 2024)

Patterns of orthodontic treatment of children in Australia: a national population-based study

Figures & Tables

Table I.

Table II.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Appendix I

Appendix II

Appendix III

Appendix IV

Appendix V

Appendix VI

Appendix VII

Appendix VIII

Appendix IX

Appendix X

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