Orthodontic Treatment of Patients With Disabilities in Norway: A Survey Among Orthodontists

The objective of this study was to examine orthodontic treatment of patients with disabilities in Norway, as perceived by orthodontists.

A digital questionnaire was sent out to the 220 registered members of the Norwegian Orthodontic Society and a response rate of 41% (n = 90) was achieved. The majority (92%) had received referrals for patients with disabilities, 53% reported treating up to 10 patients, while 37% reported treating up to 50 patients in the last 5 years. Most of the participants (64%) showed a willingness to treat more patients with disabilities, with this interest significantly and conversely linked to years in practice (p = 0.02, chi-squared test). Orthodontists desire more referrals to increase patient intake, and also financial incentives play a relevant role in this context. Regarding the preferred location for orthodontic treatment for patients with disabilities, 34% prefer treatment in specialized centers rather than the current setup in optional private practices. An association exists between this perspective and the readiness to treat additional patients (p = 0.009) CONCLUSION: Most orthodontists in Norway have treated patients with disabilities. Among the surveyed orthodontists, a notable 64% expressed a positive inclination toward treating more patients with disabilities or initiate such services. To enhance their acceptance of these patients, it seems crucial to increase referrals and provide improved financial incentives.