Grading Scheme of Gottlieb for Evaluating the Results of Orthodontic Treatment

 

Criteria for orthodontic correction:

(1) Class I molar relationship

(2) Class I cuspid relationship

(3) cusp interdigitation

(4) overbite

(5) overjet

(6) midline

(7) rotation

(8) crowding or spacing

(9) arch form

(10) torque and parallelism

 

Initial Status	Points
not a problem	0
problem	5

 

total initial score =

= SUM(points for all 10 criteria)

 

After the orthodontic treatment, the patient is assessed once more, evaluating those items that were a problem in the initial evaluation. (There could be an argument to do all of the criteria, since a treatment could introduce problems).

 

Post-Treatment Status	Points
condition corrected	5
condition almost corrected	3
condition half corrected	1
condition not corrected	0
condition worsened	-1

 

post-treatment score =

= SUM(points for status of problems after treatment)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum initial score: 0 (in which case no orthodontic care would be given)

• maximum initial score: 50

• minimum post-treatment score: -10

• maximum post-treatment score: 50

• The maximum post-treatment score for a patient equals the initial score for the patient.

 

outcome percent =

= (post-treatment score) / (initial score) * 100%

Outcome Percent	Adequacy of Care
>= 85%	good
75 – 84.9%	satisfactory
65 – 74.9%	mediocre
50 – 64.9%	poor
< 50%	unsatisfactory

 

where:

• The original table had overlaps at 65%, 75% and 85%.

• I would imagine that a score > 95% would be considered an excellent outcome.