Aesthetics behind the masks?: A new world of orthodontics

Abstract

Aim: To gauge perceptions of Practicing Orthodontists and Post Graduate students regarding various aspects of practicing Orthodontics during COVID-19 Pandemic. Methods and Material: A Short Study Survey was conducted in the month of July 2020 by means of an online Survey Questionnaire in form of Google Forms to collect the information consisting of 10 questions in English Language regarding various aspects of Orthodontic Clinical Practice in the COVID-19 Pandemic. The responses were analyzed and a mathematical representation of the results is done in the form of Percentages to describe the expected and perceived changes in the field of Orthodontics Post COVID.Results: The results were cumulated of 346 Google survey forms responses. The majority of responses were in the belief that COVID-19 impact would eventually lead to a mediocre 10-20 percent drop in the overall patients seeking treatment, with the point of focus for convincing patients remaining the same as before the Pandemic. The orthodontists were willing to work with mandatory precautionary and sanitation measures and were in the view that this additional cost be divided equally between the patient and the orthodontist. Price hike is believed to be by a meager amount and the treatment system of choice is the Self Ligating System. Debanding and Debonding procedures are the most risky procedures in terms of infection transmission and changes in our armamentarium is the most preferred way of increasing the interappointment time. Conclusion: COVID -19 pandemic has without a doubt caused an array of impacts in the world of Orthodontics and the effect will be apparent in terms of patient inflow, price hike, sanitation protocols and precautionary measures, changes in the armamentarium etc. All these responses are probable beliefs and perceptions of the orthodontists and these responses might be transient and are subject to vary depending upon the gravity of the pandemic in the coming times.