Comparison of SASOC, a measure of dental aesthetics, with three orthodontic indices and orthodontist judgment

– Scores for three malocclusion indices (HLD, TPI and OI) and Orthodontist Judgment (OJ) were available for the 100 orthodontic study models utilized in the development of SASOC, the Social Acceptability Scale of Occlusal Conditions. The ability of SASOC to predict need for treatment using OJ as a standard was compared to the ability of HLD, TPI and OI to predict OJ's decisions. In addition, determinations of need for treatment of each of the 100 models using HLD, OI and OJ were compared to SASOC's rankings for the public's perceptions of aesthetic, acceptability. Finally, the agreement of HLD, OI and OJ with each other in assessing need for treatment was compared. Results indicated: 1) that SASOC's, HLD's, TPI's and OI's “hit rate” in predicting OJ ranged between 73% and 81 %; 2) HLD's, OI's and OJ's assessment of malocclusion paralleled lay perceptions of aesthetic acceptability (SASOC), and 3) there were differences of agreement among HLD, OI and OJ as to which cases had a definite need for treatment. There was more agreement on cases which did not have a definite need for treatment than on those which did. A tool which assesses only the aesthetic component of occlusal configurations was judged to be more suitable in the study of the social and psychological impact of malocclusion than indices and orthodontist judgment which include professional criteria as well as aesthetics in their assessments of malocclusion.