Who Seeks Clear Aligner Therapy? A European Cross-National Real-World Data Analysis

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Public Health
• Sociodentistry

Background:

• Clear aligner therapy (CAT) requires thorough clinical examination and case selection, considering patient demographics and oral health.
• Patient motivations and needs for orthodontic treatment, including CAT, can differ based on sociodemographic factors and geographic location.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize patients seeking clear aligner therapy across five European countries.
• To identify sociodemographic differences and primary motivations for seeking CAT among European patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of anonymized real-world data from a large CAT provider (DrSmile).
• Inclusion of 15,015 patients (aged 18-81) from November 2021 to December 2021.
• Cross-national comparison of gender distribution, motivations, oral health status, and treatment funding.

Main Results:

• A significant difference in gender distribution was observed across countries (p < 0.001), with females generally seeking CAT more often.
• Dental crowding was the predominant motivation for seeking CAT in all countries and genders.
• The prevalence of caries, periodontitis, and missing teeth was generally low, but significant country and sociodemographic variations were noted for caries and periodontitis.

Conclusions:

• Patients seeking clear aligner therapy exhibit low prevalence of common oral conditions but show distinct sociodemographic characteristics across European countries.
• Dentists and orthodontists must acknowledge and incorporate these country-specific variations into treatment planning for clear aligner therapy.