Perception Towards Orthodontic Treatment of Patients Suffering from Malocclusion: A Cross Sectional Survey

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives To evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of adults towards orthodontic treatment. To determine the motivating factor behind orthodontic treatment and the discomfort caused by fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods A cross sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted among 220 adult orthodontic patients from orthodontic outpatient visiting dental clinics. Ten items questionnaires were used to collect the data. Chi square test was applied by using S.P.S.S. software version 11. Results Maintaining oral hygiene with 41% emerged as a major perception towards orthodontic treatment, next problem faced is duration of treatment with 37.3% subjects reported. 86% subjects reported teeth as a major feature for facial aesthetics. Only 4.5 % of subjects reported orthodontic treatment expensive. There are 12% subjects feel that there is lack of information towards orthodontic treatment still prevailing. Conclusion The principal conclusion reported in present study is that people consider smile as a major factor for aesthetics. Reason for other patients not opting for ortho treatment is not because this being too expensive but lack of information. There has to be a special campaign towards educating school children towards treatment modalities present and what difference they can bring in someone's life.