Patients’ Expectations of Orthodontic Treatment: Part 2—findings from a Questionnaire Survey

Abstract

Objective

To describe patients’ and their parents’ expectations of orthodontic treatment.

Design

A questionnaire survey of 100 patients and their primary care-givers attending a new patient orthodontic consultant clinic, at a teaching hospital.

Setting

GKT Orthodontic Department, King's College Dental Hospital, London, UK.

Subjects

The sample consisted of 100 participants who completed the questionnaire, including 50 patients aged 12–14 years who had been referred to the orthodontic department for treatment. One parent of each patient was also invited to participate.

Materials and methods

Participants completed a valid questionnaire measure of orthodontic expectations that was tested for reliability and validity. Descriptive analysis of the responses was undertaken, and comparisons of children's and parents’ expectations, in addition to ethnicity, were made.

Results

Patients and parents have similar expectations of treatment, with the exception of expectations of duration of orthodontic treatment (P<0.01), having a brace fitted at the initial visit (P<0.05), and restrictions with regard to what one can eat and drink as a result of orthodontic treatment (P<0.05). Among the patient participants, different ethnic groups displayed different expectations of the initial orthodontic assessment visit, the likelihood of wearing headgear, the impact of orthodontic treatment on diet, and the reaction of peers to treatment (P<0.05). For patients, ethnic group differences were reported for expectations regarding the initial visit, headgear and dietary restrictions (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Patients and their parents share similar expectations of orthodontic treatment for most aspects of care, although parents are more realistic in their estimation of the duration of treatment and the initial visit. The expectations of patients differ from those of their parents with regard to dietary and drink restrictions in relation to orthodontic treatment. Ethnicity significantly influences expectations of orthodontic treatment, and this may relate to differences in the patients’ and their parents’ assessed outcome of care.