Patients' Perceptions To Reduced Orthodontic Treatment Time In Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Public Health
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Orthodontic treatment duration is a significant concern for patients.
• Accelerating orthodontic tooth movement is an area of active research and development.
• Understanding patient perceptions is crucial for adopting new technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient perceptions of orthodontic treatment duration in Saudi Arabia.
• To evaluate patient willingness to undergo accelerated orthodontic procedures and techniques.
• To determine patient acceptance of increased costs associated with faster treatment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among orthodontic patients in Saudi Arabia.
• The survey collected data on perceptions of treatment duration, acceptance of acceleration techniques, and willingness to pay.
• Descriptive and comparative statistics were used, with a significance level of p<0.05.

Main Results:

• 83% of participants felt orthodontic treatment takes too long; 55.5% desired treatment under 6 months.
• Customized wires (52.5%) and FDA-approved teeth vibrators (40.5%) were the most preferred acceleration techniques.
• Nearly half (47.5%) were willing to pay more, with 59% accepting a 30-40% fee increase for teeth vibrators.

Conclusions:

• A strong patient desire exists for shorter orthodontic treatment durations.
• Customized wires and teeth vibrators are perceived as the most acceptable methods for accelerating orthodontic treatment.
• Patient acceptance of accelerated techniques is influenced by factors such as gender and income.