To control the impact of the demographic characteristics and health status on the utilization of ED services/hospitalization, and to avoid model fitting un-convergence caused by using so many factors in the model construction, we used the demographic propensity need (DPN) score calculated by PSM.
Similar to the example of a reversible reaction (Equation 52), it is therefore necessary to evaluate covariance effects and to judge whether the propensity function needs adjusting.
Among the children with a normative need defined as any type of dental irregularity, SMO > 0, (63.8%), only 18.9% had an impact related need and 12% had high propensity related need, indicating that about one fifth of those with any malocclusion would actually demand some kind of orthodontic care.
Finally, a total of 12%8.4%4% in Kinondon and 18.1% in Temeke) (192/1601) had propensity related need, i.e. having impact related need and good behavioral propensity in terms of satisfactory oral hygiene scores.
Propensity related need assessment (level three) is calculated by integrating normative need assessment with impacts on OHRQoL and children's behavioral propensity in terms of appropriate oral hygiene and dental attendance patterns, thus taking into account the effectiveness and appropriateness of suggested treatments in the decision making process.
Propensity related need assessment or level 3 is calculated by integrating normative need assessment with impacts on OHRQoL and an individual's behavioral propensity.
Finally, 4.7 % (45/960), 2.8% in urban and 6.9% in rural, fulfilled the criteria for having propensity related need for partial dentures, i.e. having impact related need and at the same time confirming no use of tobacco products.
Mc Nemar test revealed statistically significant differences between the normative need estimate on the one hand side and the impact- and propensity related need estimates on the other (p < 0.001).
This result corroborates those of a previous study using the same socio-dental approach to estimate orthodontic treatment need among Thai children in that normative need for orthodontic care was found to be much higher (35%) than the medium to high propensity related need (18.9%) [ 10- 12].
