Assent for Orthognathic Surgery: Features, Challenges, and Benefits

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Healthcare

Background:

• Orthognathic surgery is often performed near the age of majority, involving many legal minors.
• Informed consent is not legally possible for minors, necessitating assent.
• Adolescent cognitive development, complex multi-provider treatment, and the elective nature of surgery complicate the assent process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complexities of obtaining assent for orthognathic surgery in adolescent patients.
• To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of assent in this population.
• To underscore the importance of a high-quality assent process for patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of current practices and challenges in pediatric surgical orthodontics assent.
• Analysis of cognitive and developmental factors relevant to adolescent decision-making.
• Discussion of the multiphased and multi-provider nature of orthognathic treatment.

Main Results:

• Assent for surgical orthodontics is challenging due to cognitive variability in adolescence.
• The extended, multi-provider treatment course adds complexity to the assent process.
• The elective nature of orthognathic surgery requires careful consideration of patient assent.

Conclusions:

• A high-quality assent process is crucial for identifying suitable candidates for orthognathic surgery.
• Effective assent can enhance patient satisfaction with surgical orthodontic treatment.
• Addressing the unique challenges of assent in minors is vital for ethical and successful outcomes.