Effectiveness of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment in Reducing Malocclusions

Objectives: This retrospective case-control study of the effectiveness of interceptive orthodontics compares one group (n=133) receiving interceptive orthodontics to another (n=113) receiving no treatment.

Methods: Models were scored using the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON). Control models were archival and were selected based on the presence of a malocclusion in the early mixed dentition and the lack of orthodontic treatment during the subsequent 2-year interval. Treated models were consecutively treated in a mixed dentition interceptive orthodontic clinic.

Results: Pre-treatment age was 9.4 (+/-1.4) for the treated group and 9.3 (+/-0.8) for the control. Treatments were 27.2 (+/-16.3) and 24.4 (+/-3.6) months, respectively. Subject groups matched for age, need, complexity, duration and all ICON components except spacing (p<0.006) and crossbite (p< 0.000). Treatment ICON scores decreased 38.8% (p<0.0001) from 54.9 (+/-16.6) to 33.6 (+/-16.1). Controls were unchanged: 54.0(+/-14.8) and 54.2 (+/-16.9). Pre-treatment need and post-treatment unacceptability was evident in both groups. Improvement grades were different (p<0.0001) with most controls categorized as "not improved/worse" (89.4%), while treated had only 36.1% in that category. However, there were increases in the "minimal", "moderate" and "substantial" improvement categories for the treated (22.6%, 21.1% and 17.3%, respectively). Controls failed to change in any ICON component and worsened in crowding (p<0.007), while the treated improved in esthetics, crowding, crossbite and overbite (p<0.007).

Conclusion: These results indicate that interceptive orthodontics is effective at improving malocclusions but does not produce finished quality results.