Stress Attributes for Indian Orthodontic Practitioners: A Cross-sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Orthodontists dedicate extensive hours to patient care, often over many years.
• The long-term nature of orthodontic treatment can lead to unique and challenging stressful situations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and evaluate the primary stressors encountered by orthodontic professionals in India.
• To understand the prevalence and impact of occupational stress within the field of orthodontics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing a self-administered, anonymous survey.
• The survey targeted orthodontic residents and practitioners across India.
• Twenty-nine potential stressors were included for respondent evaluation.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of respondents (over 61%) indicated that specific factors are highly stressful in orthodontic practice.
• The study highlights key areas of occupational stress within the surveyed orthodontic population.
• Data provides insight into the perceived intensity of various stressors.

Conclusions:

• Orthodontic practice in India involves considerable occupational stress for practitioners.
• Identifying these stressors is crucial for developing targeted support and interventions.
• Further research can explore strategies to mitigate stress and improve well-being in orthodontics.