Patients' and Parents' Perception of Functional Appliances: A Survey Study

To evaluate patients' and parents' perception of removable, fixed rigid, and fixed hybrid functional appliances and to compare their impacts on anxiety and discomfort during treatment in different age groups and genders.

Data were gathered by means of a questionnaire that included items presumed to be associated with orthodontic compliance. A self-administered questionnaire was used to quantify patients' and parents' perceptions. Three groups were formed regarding the type of functional appliance used: fixed rigid (Functional Mandibular Advancer, FMA), fixed hybrid (Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device, FRD), and removable (Twin Block, TB). Two separate questionnaires were used for the patients and their parents comprising the necessary context. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis.

Patients needed less time to adapt to the FRD appliance. Eating difficulties were encountered by patients in the FMA group. Adolescents who had completed functional orthodontic treatment with a removable appliance had difficulties in controlling their saliva. Patients' and parents' perceptions were found to be in accordance with each other.

Adolescents who had completed functional orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances had more difficulty in their daily life. Orthodontists should be aware of this impact caused by functional orthodontic treatment and should regularly encourage patients by reminding them of the improvements to be had by fixing the malocclusion.