Analysis of factors affecting adolescent patients’ demands for orthodontic treatment

AbstractAim: This study aimed to evaluate the factors that affect adolescent patients’ treatment requests and determine their main reasons for demanding orthodontic treatment.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study included 360 (189 female and 171 male) adolescents (mean age: 15.49±2.28 years) who demanded orthodontic treatment. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by an orthodontist using a specially structured questionnaire to determine the reasons for these demands. Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyze the relationships between dental malocclusion groups and reasons for demanding treatment. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results: The demands for orthodontic treatment did not differ between male and female patients but were significantly affected by malocclusion type. Patients concerned with dental crowding (DC) demanded orthodontic treatment the most (50.6%), regardless of DC severity, followed by patients (30.6%) concerned with dental esthetics (30.6%). Overall, 57.8% of patients who demanded orthodontic treatment reported a problem in the maxillary anterior teeth. Regarding the relationship between demanding orthodontic treatment and patients’ problematic areas, no relationship was observed for class I and II malocclusions but a relationship was observed for class III malocclusions.Discussion: It is necessary to identify adolescent patients’ reasons for demanding orthodontic treatment and establish what would represent a successful treatment outcome. Regardless of DC severity, irregularity in the upper anterior region was the most common reason for patients to demand treatment.KeywordsDemand for Treatment; Dental Malocclusion; Dental Crowding; Orthodontic Treatment