Knowledge and attitude toward orthodontic treatment among treated subjects compared with untreated subjects and correlation with patient–orthodontist communication

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate knowledge and awareness toward orthodontic treatment among treated subjects as compared with untreated subjects and to correlate the communications between treated subjects and their practicing orthodontists. Materials and methods: Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to be completed by the consent subjects. They were 340 untreated subjects (220 males and 120 females) and 102 subjects (57 males and 45 females) who recently received orthodontic treatment in the age range 19 to 28 years. Subjects that received orthodontic treatment were selected among the attendees of clinics of College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 21, Institute Inc., USA). Results: Subjects who received orthodontic treatment scored higher mean of total scores of awareness 14.74 and knowledge 11.18. The difference of awareness and knowledge between treated and untreated subjects was highly significant (p = 0.000). The female treated subjects scored higher than male treated subjects in attitude toward thumb sucking as a cause of malocclusion (91.3 and 70.2% respectively). Early primary teeth extraction as a cause of malocclusion was scored by 76.1% females and 42.1% males. The male treated subjects show significant (p>0.05) correlation between the total items of knowledge of orthodontic treatment and total items of orthodontist–patient communications. Conclusion: Orthodontic treated subjects have more knowledge and awareness about orthodontic treatment than untreated subjects. A significant association was found between communications and knowledge of orthodontic treatment in male as compared with female patients. Clinical significance: Knowledge and awareness toward orthodontic treatment and the communications of orthodontic patients with treating orthodontist can significantly increase the orthodontic treatment outcome.