Level of Awareness towards Orthodontic Treatment for Medically Compromised Patients among Dental Practitioners in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

1. Abstract 1.1.Objectives:Orthodontic treatment can improve the patients overall well-being and self-esteem [1]. Some patients have systemic disorders that require certain precautions before and/or during and/or after treatment. With increasing demand many of these medically compromised patients are seeking orthodontic therapy [2] and it should not be abstain because of presence of medical disorder [3]. Therefore all dental practitioners required to be mindful of the potential clinical implication of these diseases [4]. 1.2.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 371 randomly selected dental practitioners (senior dental students, interns, general practitioners, orthodontists and other specialists in dentistry) in Saudi Arabia. Online questionnaire was distributed through network and collected over a period of 3 months. Data collected, entered and analyzed using appropriate different tests with significance level set at P<0.05. 1.3.Result: The overall knowledge of senior dental students and dental interns were low. And for dentists and other specialists they were aware to some situations. While the orthodontists were aware of most of the situations. There was no significant difference between males and females (P≤0.05). But a significant difference in knowledge between the different specialties was found in the following conditions: the need of prophylactic treatment before orthodontic treatment before orthodontic treatment, patients with bacteremia, infective endocarditis, renal failure and patients on corticosteroid therapy, NSAID, rheumatoid arthritis drugs, drugs for asthma. 1.4.Conclusion: we can conclude that the awareness toward orthodontic management was overall acceptable but need improvements. More lectures and seminars are highly recommended. 1. Abstract 1.1.Objectives:Orthodontic treatment can improve the patients overall well-being and self-esteem [1]. Some patients have systemic disorders that require certain precautions before and/or during and/or after treatment. With increasing demand many of these medically compromised patients are seeking orthodontic therapy [2] and it should not be abstain because of presence of medical disorder [3]. Therefore all dental practitioners required to be mindful of the potential clinical implication of these diseases [4]. 1.2.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 371 randomly selected dental practitioners (senior dental students, interns, general practitioners, orthodontists and other specialists in dentistry) in Saudi Arabia. Online questionnaire was distributed through network and collected over a period of 3 months. Data collected, entered and analyzed using appropriate different tests with significance level set at P<0.05. 1.3.Result: The overall knowledge of senior dental students and dental interns were low. And for dentists and other specialists they were aware to some situations. While the orthodontists were aware of most of the situations. There was no significant difference between males and females (P≤0.05). But a significant difference in knowledge between the different specialties was found in the following conditions: the need of prophylactic treatment before orthodontic treatment before orthodontic treatment, patients with bacteremia, infective endocarditis, renal failure and patients on corticosteroid therapy, NSAID, rheumatoid arthritis drugs, drugs for asthma. 1.4.Conclusion: we can conclude that the awareness toward orthodontic management was overall acceptable but need improvements. More lectures and seminars are highly recommended.