Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate participants’ orthodontic treatment expectations and to assess participants’ perceptions of their own orthodontic treatment need. A secondary aim was to compare participants’ self-perceived treatment need to an orthodontist’s opinion. Ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anne-Maria Aulu, Tuija Pikkusaari, David Rice, Heidi Arponen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2025-06-01
Series:Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaodontologica/article/view/43910
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849422488616828928
author Anne-Maria Aulu
Tuija Pikkusaari
David Rice
Heidi Arponen
author_facet Anne-Maria Aulu
Tuija Pikkusaari
David Rice
Heidi Arponen
author_sort Anne-Maria Aulu
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate participants’ orthodontic treatment expectations and to assess participants’ perceptions of their own orthodontic treatment need. A secondary aim was to compare participants’ self-perceived treatment need to an orthodontist’s opinion. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 98 participants, aged 7–12 years, completed a modified Sayers questionnaire before an orthodontic screening in a public health center in Finland. After completing the questionnaire, the participants underwent a clinical examination of the occlusion by an orthodontist specialist. A Spearman’s rank correlation was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the questionnaire answers. The chi square statistic was applied to assess association between categorical variables. Results: From the initial orthodontic screening, a sample of 98, 94 participants were included in further analysis. Of them, 89% expressed a self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment need was determined by an orthodontist for 66% of the participants based on a severe malocclusion. Gender, age, or family history of orthodontic treatment were not associated with subjective treatment need. The main expectations for orthodontic treatment result were to straighten the teeth, to get a better smile, and to avoid problems in the future. Conclusions: The study found that patients’ expectations of treatment did not fully align with reality. More information for patients and their guardians is needed in advance to avoid unrealistic expectations before the orthodontic treatment.
format Article
id doaj-art-6d1161baf4d24c60b97831fa9d2a35a7
institution Kabale University
issn 0001-6357
1502-3850
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Medical Journals Sweden
record_format Article
series Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
spelling doaj-art-6d1161baf4d24c60b97831fa9d2a35a72025-08-20T03:31:02ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Odontologica Scandinavica0001-63571502-38502025-06-018410.2340/aos.v84.43910Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional studyAnne-Maria Aulu0Tuija Pikkusaari1David Rice2Heidi Arponen3Wellbeing Services County of Vantaa and Kerava, Vantaa, Finland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandWellbeing Services County of Vantaa and Kerava, Vantaa, Finland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate participants’ orthodontic treatment expectations and to assess participants’ perceptions of their own orthodontic treatment need. A secondary aim was to compare participants’ self-perceived treatment need to an orthodontist’s opinion. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 98 participants, aged 7–12 years, completed a modified Sayers questionnaire before an orthodontic screening in a public health center in Finland. After completing the questionnaire, the participants underwent a clinical examination of the occlusion by an orthodontist specialist. A Spearman’s rank correlation was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the questionnaire answers. The chi square statistic was applied to assess association between categorical variables. Results: From the initial orthodontic screening, a sample of 98, 94 participants were included in further analysis. Of them, 89% expressed a self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment need was determined by an orthodontist for 66% of the participants based on a severe malocclusion. Gender, age, or family history of orthodontic treatment were not associated with subjective treatment need. The main expectations for orthodontic treatment result were to straighten the teeth, to get a better smile, and to avoid problems in the future. Conclusions: The study found that patients’ expectations of treatment did not fully align with reality. More information for patients and their guardians is needed in advance to avoid unrealistic expectations before the orthodontic treatment. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaodontologica/article/view/43910orthodonticstreatment expectationschildrentreatment needpatient reported outcomes
spellingShingle Anne-Maria Aulu
Tuija Pikkusaari
David Rice
Heidi Arponen
Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study
Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
orthodontics
treatment expectations
children
treatment need
patient reported outcomes
title Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study
title_full Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study
title_fullStr Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study
title_short Expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7–12 year-old children – a cross sectional study
title_sort expectations of orthodontic treatment among 7 12 year old children a cross sectional study
topic orthodontics
treatment expectations
children
treatment need
patient reported outcomes
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaodontologica/article/view/43910
work_keys_str_mv AT annemariaaulu expectationsoforthodontictreatmentamong712yearoldchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT tuijapikkusaari expectationsoforthodontictreatmentamong712yearoldchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT davidrice expectationsoforthodontictreatmentamong712yearoldchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT heidiarponen expectationsoforthodontictreatmentamong712yearoldchildrenacrosssectionalstudy