Orthodontic patient’s perspectives, attitudes, and readiness toward teleorthodontics

Abstract

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the perspective, attitude, and readiness of orthodontic patients toward teleorthodontics. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted at an orthodontic specialist clinic, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia, involving all 46 orthodontic patients requiring active orthodontic treatment from February to July 2021. Patients were offered four options of online consultation: telephone call, virtual meeting, WhatsApp messaging, and a combination of all three methods. An online survey was distributed after the online consultations to assess patients’ perspectives, attitudes, and readiness toward teleorthodontics. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic data. Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare the patient’s perspectives, attitudes, and readiness toward teleorthodontics based on their demographic background. A Spearman’s correlation coefficient looked at the linear relationship between the perspective, attitude, and readiness toward teleorthodontics practice. Results: About 82.4% agreed that teleorthodontics was convenient. About 82% agreed that teleorthodontics should be practiced during the pandemic and 72% agreed that it should be practiced after the pandemic. About 89.1% agreed that teleorthodontics bring benefits during the pandemic, and 74% agreed that teleorthodontics might bring benefits after the pandemic. No significant difference was found between sociodemographic background with the total scores of patients’ perspectives, readiness, and attitude toward teleorthodontics. Conclusions: The majority of the patients showed good perspective, attitude, and readiness toward teleorthodontics. Teleorthodontics on certain clinical procedures can be implemented postpandemic to reduce in-office orthodontic visits.