Orthodontic Practitioners' Knowledge and Education Demand on Clear Aligner Therapy

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Technology
• Continuing Dental Education

Background:

• Clear aligner therapy (CAT) is increasingly popular in orthodontics.
• A lack of systematic training courses for CAT exists.
• Assessing practitioner knowledge is essential for developing effective educational programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate orthodontists' knowledge of clear aligner therapy (CAT).
• To identify specific areas of CAT knowledge required for future tailored courses.
• To provide insights for curriculum development in CAT.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire assessed practitioner background, CAT predictability knowledge, and desired learning topics.
• Expert orthodontist consensus served as a benchmark for predictability.
• Statistical analyses included ANOVA, principal component analysis, and regression (P < .05).

Main Results:

• 190 practitioners participated, frequently overestimating CAT predictability for challenging movements like molar mesialization (P < .0001).
• Managing troubleshooting and extraction cases were the most requested CAT knowledge areas.
• Factors influencing predictability perception and knowledge needs included practice type, experience, and case volume.

Conclusions:

• Limited clinical experience correlates with overestimated CAT predictability for complex tooth movements.
• Tailored CAT education is necessary, focusing on troubleshooting and extraction case management.
• Comprehensive training is recommended for all practitioners utilizing clear aligners.