Orthodontic Knowledge Research Articles

Awareness to Orthodontics among a Sample of Final Year Dental Students

Abstract Objective Because of esthetic demand, awareness about orthodontic treatment has increased nowadays, especially among young people and adolescents, in addition to the fact that knowledge of orthodontics and various details of it is more significant among dental students according to what they learned in their curricula and their examination and observation of many cases of malocclusion. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the awareness of the final year of undergraduate dental students toward orthodontics. Materials and Methods About 532 (320 females and 212 males) students in the fifth year of six Iraqi universities were invited to participate in this questionnaire distributed via the Google classroom. This questionnaire included 20 questions about orthodontics. Pearson's chi-square test evaluated the gender and universities differences. Results In general, the awareness responses were very high in most of the questions answered except in three questions in which the percentage of positive answers varies from 49 to 76%. Also, there were no significant gender differences in 17 question answers, and only 3 showed significant gender differences. Females expressed a high level of awareness than males. Conclusion The high and close level of awareness expressed by students' responses in this study revealed the integrated education in orthodontic sciences in Iraqi dental colleges in different universities, except in some questions that deal with topics about the acceleration of tooth movement and the relation between vitamin D3 and teeth movement.

Knowledge and Awareness on Aligner Treatment Protocol Among General Dentists, and Non Orthodontic Specialists: A Questionnaire study

The general dental practitioners and other non-orthodontic specialists can play the role of orthodontic health educators. Dentists have the responsibility to recognize, diagnose, and manage or refer abnormalities in the developing dentition. Hence for proper counseling and referral, general dentists and non-orthodontic specialists must have adequate level of orthodontic knowledge. Aim and objective: This study aims to determine and evaluate the knowledge and attitude of general dentists and non-orthodontic specialists towards early orthodontic treatment. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of orthodontic treatment among general dentists and non-orthodontic specialists and to compare the knowledge of orthodontic treatment between the two groups. Material and methods: 308 dental professionals were included in the study. The participants were divided into three groups; Group I included general practitioners, Group II had non-orthodontic postgraduate students, and Group III had non- orthodontic specialists. The questionnaire included 20 closed-ended, multiple choice questions. The first five questions include; general information such as gender, age, educational qualification, years of clinical experience and attachment to educational institutions. The next fifteen questions depict the attitude and awareness of principles and practices in orthodontics. Results: The study highlights the need for better education for treatment concepts in aligner therapy to the general dentist and non-orthodontic specialist. Conclusion: Conduction of Continuing Education programs to update them regularly in newer treatment protocols might be of great help to the practitioners in providing meticulous care to their patients. Overall, clear aligners have revolutionized orthodontic treatment by offering improved aesthetics, patient acceptance, and quality of life.

Evaluation of dental students and alumni's confidence level in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment-planning: A qualitative study.

Orthodontic education, besides some other factors, influences the confidence level of recently graduated dentists to diagnose subjects seeking orthodontic treatment and provide treatment plans. This study aims to explore the factors that influence the confidence level of undergraduate dental students to diagnose subjects seeking orthodontic treatment and provide treatment plans after graduation. A qualitative study was undertaken using focus groups and interviews. Purposive sampling was used, focus groups and face to face semi-structured interviews were adopted as the method of data collection. Three focus groups were evaluated including fifth-year undergraduate, postgraduate orthodontic students, and recently graduated general dentists. In addition, eleven interviews were performed with the fifth-year undergraduate students. Data collection ceased upon reaching data saturation, with thematic analysis employed for qualitative data analysis. Six themes and two sub-themes were extracted from the data. More focus on the theory was highly noticed, and most of the participants exhibited a low level of self confidence in extrapolating orthodontic diagnosis and establishing treatment plans after graduation. In addition, they believed that practical teaching sessions mostly deal with wire bending and demanded to expand the clinical orthodontic knowledge to be able to indicate the right diagnosis and initiate proper treatment plans. Clinical and practical training alongside theoretical foundation represent key factors in orthodontic education required to obtain confidence in orthodontic practice among dental undergraduate students and alumni. The findings help in enhancing undergraduate programs via providing a clinically oriented orthodontic education from student perceptions.

Assessing the Accuracy of AI Models in Orthodontic Knowledge: A Comparative Study Between ChatGPT-4 and Google Bard.

To compare the knowledge accuracy of ChatGPT-4 and Google Bard in response to knowledge-based questions related to orthodontic diagnosis and treatment modalities. Cross-sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Orthodontics, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, from June 23rd to August 30th 2023. A comprehensive content analysis was designed based on a mini implant-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE), clear aligners (CA), and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), involving 30 questions for each category (total = 90) derived from recent review articles. Questions were prepared and presented to two large language models (LLMs): Google Bard and ChatGPT-4. Two independent raters evaluated the accuracy of the responses using a scoring system ranging from one to five, by comparing the answers to a standard key. Statistical analyses, including the paired sample t-test, were used to assess the performance of the two language models. GPT-4 demonstrated superior performance, outperforming Google Bard significantly in the MARPE, CBCT, and CA categories, and achieved a higher mean score. A p-value was found to be (p = 0.001) for MARPE and CBCT, while it was (p = 0.013) for CA. Overall, GPT-4 achieved a total score of 92.6%, surpassing Google Bard's which was 72%. GPT-4 is more efficient than Google Bard in providing accurate and up-to-date information regarding recent trends in orthodontic treatment modalities. Aligners, Cone beam computed tomography, ChatGPT-4, Google Bard, Mini implant-assisted rapid palatal expansion.

Orthodontic Knowledge and Awareness among Medical Students of a Tertiary Medical College

Background Orthodontics, a vital branch of dentistry dedicated to correcting malalignment and malocclusion, stands as a prime example of such a specialty that frequently finds itself overlooked within the medical community. This study aims to evaluate the levels of orthodontics knowledge and awareness of medical faculty students and future medical doctors. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 296 students of College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital from January 2024 to May 2024. Ethical approval was taken from Institutional Review Committee of College of Medical Sciences. Then data was entered in Excel and data was analyzed by using SPSS 18. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. p-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.ResultsThis research was conducted among 41.6% female and 58.4% were male. This research showed that 62.2% respondents had good knowledge and awareness of orthodontic (with 95% CI 56.67% to 67.73%). Also, 65.9% female and 59.5% male had good knowledge and awareness on orthodontic likewise, 66% clinical and from pre-clinical side 58.5% had good level of knowledge and awareness on orthodontic. This research showed that there is no association between gender and level of knowledge and awareness (p-value>0.05).Conclusions This research showed that more than sixty percentage respondents had good knowledge on orthodontics likewise more than ninety percentage respondents know the meaning of orthodontics.

Knowledge, Awareness And Practice Of Digital Orthodontics Among Orthodontists And Orthodontic Residents – A Cross Sectional Study

Knowledge, Awareness And Practice Of Digital Orthodontics Among Orthodontists And Orthodontic Residents – A Cross Sectional Study

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of clear aligners among general dentist and non-orthodontic postgraduates – A cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Background. Over the past few years, there has been a discernible surge in the demand for orthodontic treatments involving clear aligners. Although orthodontists have long held expertise in offering braces treatments, the advent of clear aligners has put out the curiosity of general dental practitioners. This study is thus centered on the assessment of general dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and approaches in incorporating clear aligners in their practice. Materials and methods. A Google Form with a questionnaire was created which consisted of 25 multiple choice closed-ended questions. Results. A total of 156 participants responded to the questionnaire. The comparative analysis showed a highly significant difference in knowledge, attitude and practice scores between general dentists and non-orthodontic postgraduates. No significant correlations were observed, except for the specialty and qualification related to orthodontic knowledge and found that most of them were familiar with aligners. The results of the study showed that nearly 50% of participants were not aware of aligner material, type of tooth movements easier with aligners, the use of composite attachments, retention protocols followed and case preference and only 56% of participants held the view that Orthodontists' involvement was imperative for clear aligner treatment. Conclusion. The study revealed a moderate level of knowledge and a favorable attitude towards clear aligner treatment among both general dentists and non-orthodontic postgraduates. Equipping these professionals with the requisite knowledge and competencies holds the potential to enhance their ability to deliver efficient orthodontic options to their patients down the line.

Knowledge and Perception of Orthodontic Treatment among General and Non-Orthodontic Dental Specialists: A Comparative Study.

The objective of this study is to discover any possible association of gender or practitioner classification with orthodontic knowledge and attitudes towards orthodontic treatment. Descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted on two groups of dentists in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia. Group I included general practitioners, while Group II had non-orthodontic specialists. The findings suggest a statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference between the knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists. Independent two tailed t-scores for difference in Knowledge (t-score = 3.19919, p = 0.003) and Attitude (t-score = 2.16314, p = 0.048319), highlight significant disparities in the knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of knowledge and attitudes based on gender differences. This study captures and highlights subtle information that is very significant in dealing with critically important orthodontics issues. The study suggests that it is possible that a non-orthodontic specialist may suggest an altogether different line of treatment with different consequences when compared to a general practitioner and vice versa. This may result in unwanted, permanent orthodontic effects, highlighting the significance of the early stage of orthodontic treatment awareness. This research reveals disparities between the perceptions of general practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists about the stage and relevance of orthodontic treatment. It is strongly advised to see an orthodontic expert rather than a general practitioner or non-orthodontic specialist for orthodontic issues.

The knowledge of orthodontic and craniofacial growth amongst Italian Pediatric Medical Residents for early diagnosis in growing patients: a cross-sectional study.

Paediatric residents usually visit children since the first years of life and can potentially diagnose craniofacial anomalies and malocclusions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the ability of paediatric medical residents to diagnose malocclusions in growing subjects at an early stage. Eighty-three paediatric medical residents from the University of Pavia, Italy, who were enrolled in the Paediatric Residency program, participated in an online questionnaire. The questionnaire covered demographic variables, oral examination practices, dental and orthodontic knowledge, and sources of information. Following this, the residents were presented with a photographic analysis and asked to determine the treatment priority for 10 patients with malocclusions using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). On average, it was recommended that the first orthodontic visit should occur at around 4.92 years of age. The results showed that 75.9% of the residents always performed oral examinations on their patients, and 48.1% assigned a priority score of 8 or higher. The scores obtained by the paediatric residents did not significantly differ based on the year of study, frequency of oral examinations, or sources of information reported. Notably, there was a particular underestimation of treatment priority for malocclusions characterized by a significant increase in overjet. The findings suggest a potential lack of improvement in orthodontic knowledge during the medical residency program. It is recommended to increase the availability of orthodontic information sources for paediatric residents to enhance their understanding in this area.

Attitude and Knowledge of Orthodontics among Egyptian Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Attitude and Knowledge of Orthodontics among Egyptian Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Digital Orthodontics Among Orthodontists and Orthodontic Residents in Gujarat: A Questionnaire Study

Introduction: Introduction of digital technology in orthodontics has improved the overall experience for the patient as well as the clinician. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of digital orthodontics among orthodontists and orthodontic residents in Gujarat through a questionnaire. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire comprised of two parts, the first part which consisted of sociodemographic details (5 questions) and the second part consisted of questions to assess the knowledge (2 questions), attitude (9 questions) and practice (3 questions) of digital orthodontics. The final developed questionnaire after content validity was sent to Orthodontists and Orthodontic residents as Google Form link to Gujrat Orthodontic Study Group over WhatsApp and the received responses were recorded. Results: Kolmogorov- Smirnov test was employed to test the normality of data. Chi Square test was performed for the quantitative variables. Results showed that majority of the participants knew about availability of digital orthodontics. Revealed a positive incline in incorporating digital orthodontics in their routine practice. However, a lack was observed in practicing digital orthodontics among Orthodontists and Orthodontic Residents of Gujarat Statistically significant difference was present regarding the awareness about digital orthodontics between males and females (p value = 0.042). Conclusion: Orthodontists and orthodontic residents of Gujarat displayed adequate knowledge, positive attitude and lack of practice about digital orthodontics. Male population is more aware about digital technologies as compared to female population.

The Validity of Machine Learning Procedures in Orthodontics: What Is Still Missing?

Artificial intelligence (AI) models and procedures hold remarkable predictive efficiency in the medical domain through their ability to discover hidden, non-obvious clinical patterns in data. However, due to the sparsity, noise, and time-dependency of medical data, AI procedures are raising unprecedented issues related to the mismatch between doctors’ mentalreasoning and the statistical answers provided by algorithms. Electronic systems can reproduce or even amplify noise hidden in the data, especially when the diagnosis of the subjects in the training data set is inaccurate or incomplete. In this paper we describe the conditions that need to be met for AI instruments to be truly useful in the orthodontic domain. We report some examples of computational procedures that are capable of extracting orthodontic knowledge through ever deeper patient representation. To have confidence in these procedures, orthodontic practitioners should recognize the benefits, shortcomings, and unintended consequences of AI models, as algorithms that learn from human decisions likewise learn mistakes and biases.

Comparison between Virtual and Traditional Learning Methods for Orthodontic Knowledge and Skills in Dental Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

A gradual transition from traditional face-to-face learning to online learning has been observed globally following the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to compare online and traditional learning methods in relation to orthodontic knowledge and skills acquired in undergraduate courses. A quasi-experimental design was used with two consecutive year classes of 198 dental students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. The experimental (virtual) group of 92 students received the content of a clinical orthodontic course virtually using the Blackboard Collaborate™ platform. The control (traditional) group consisted of a previous cohort of 106 students who enrolled in the same course but received traditional classroom education. The students were evaluated through a semester, and both groups obtained the same content and exam questions. The students in the virtual group scored higher in the final theory exam than the traditional group (p-value < 0.05). However, no significant difference in the overall orthodontic knowledge and skills was observed between the groups at the end of the course. Both learning methods showed moderate positive correlation between orthodontic knowledge and skills. In conclusion, virtual learning can serve as an effective alternative to traditional face-to-face learning for teaching orthodontic knowledge and skills to the dental students.

Determining Orthodontic Knowledge and Awareness in Young Adults

Aim and Objective: To assess the level of awareness among local adult population (orthodontically untreated) regarding orthodontic treatment and procedures. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned by accessing 100 subjects comprising of 2 groups (50 male and 50 female). After due ethical clearance, a self-structured questionnaire consisting of 17 questions was given to a group of randomly selected 100 individuals with an age range of 20 to 30 years. Results: The overall awareness of orthodontics as a speciality among both the groups was only 52% to 56%. Statistically insignificant difference was found in the knowledge and awareness of orthodontic treatment among both male and female subjects, that is, Group I and II. Also, those who knew about the orthodontic treatment did not opt for it because of high cost and longer duration involved. Conclusion: More than half of the population is unaware of the scope of orthodontic treatment, and thus, they do not seek any assistance. Hence, more efforts are needed to create awareness about orthodontics and the associated benefits.

Cleft Care in a Developing Country: An Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes of Patients/Parents of Children With an Orofacial Cleft to Orthodontic Treatment

To assess the knowledge, awareness and attitude to orthodontic treatment of patients and parents of children with orofacial clefts, receiving comprehensive cleft care treatment. Cross-sectional survey. A major tertiary health care facility in Nigeria, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos. Patients and parents of children with orofacial clefts receiving comprehnsive cleft care. Patients and parents of children with orofacial clefts were asked to complete the survey. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used. A total of 123 patients participated in the study, 55.3% (68) were females and 44.7% (55) were males. The majority (85.3%, 114) of patients were children aged between 0 and 5 years, while only 7.3% (9) were adults, aged 18 years and above. About one-third (41) of the respondents indicated that they felt "their teeth was not straight." Although 43.9% (54) reported that they knew that braces could be used to straighten teeth, only 13.8% of the respondents knew who an orthodontist was. Eighty percent (99) indicated that they would be willing to undergo treatment to straighten their teeth or their children/wards' teeth. The majority of parents of children with clefts and adult patients attending the institution's cleft clinic had limited knowledge of orthodontics and the orthodontic care required for patients with clefts, although they had a positive attitude toward orthodontic treatment. These findings will guide the center in planning patient-centered orthodontic care for patients with clefts while also highlighting areas of importance for patient counseling and education in the orthodontic care for these patients.

Orthodontics-Awareness Amongst Medical Students

Introduction: The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of orthodontics, a specialty of dentistry,amongst Medical Students.&#x0D; Materials and Method: A sample of 550 students (279 female, 226 male aged between 18 and 36 years) were attented.Of the subjects, 58.6% (n = 296) were preclinical students, while 41.4% (n = 209) were clinical students. The students were informed about the questionnaire and asked to fill in the questionnaire forms. For the comparison of data between groups (gender, level of education), the chi-square test was used. A chi-square test was used for statistical evaluation and the p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Result: 385 students (76.2%) had heard the term orthodontics although 41.2% of the subjects knew that orthodonticswas concerned with malocclusions and their treatment. The question about treatment procedures was answeredas scaling by 35.8%, tooth polishing by 40%, tooth aligning by 89.9% of the students. The percentage of knowingorthodontics to be related to tooth aligning showed a significant difference between female and male (p = 0.006), andpreclinical and clinical students (p = 0.033). Of the participants, 42.8% thought that dentures, 83% brackets, 78.8% ofremovable appliances were used by orthodontists.&#x0D; Conclusion: Our results have shown that medical students should have more information about orthodontics, aspecialty of dentistry.

Phone-based audience response system as an adjunct in orthodontic teaching of undergraduate dental students: a cross-over randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe advent of electronic teaching facilities improves tutor-student communication. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of Phone-Based Audience Response System (PB-ARS), as an adjunctive pedagogy tool to enhance the retention of orthodontic information by dental students; and to explore the students’ perception of PB-ARS.MethodsThis cross-over clustered randomised control trial included 34 males who were in the final year of their undergraduate dental training. Participants were allocated to one of two event groups (G1 and G2) using computer-generated randomisation. Both groups simultaneously attended two different traditional lectures (L 1 and L2) a week apart. During L1, PB-ARS was used as an adjunct to conventional presentation to teach G1 participants, (PB-ARS group) while G2’s participants acted as a control group (CG), and were taught using a traditional presentation. In the second week (L2), the interventions were crossed-over. Participants from both groups completed pre- and post-lecture multiple-choice questionnaires (MCQ) to assess their short-term retention of information. Their performance in the final MCQ exam (10 weeks following L2) was tracked to assess the long-term retention of the information. Participants also completed post-lecture questionnaires to evaluate their perceptions.ResultsTwenty-nine and 31 participants from the CG and PB-ARS group completed this trial, respectively. Although 87.5% of students in the PB-ARS group showed an improvement in their immediate post-lecture scores compared with 79.3% for the CG, it was statistically insignificant (p = 0.465). Similarly, the intervention showed an insignificant effect on the long-term retention of the knowledge (p = 0.560).There was a mildly but favourable attitude of students towards the use of PB-ARS. However, the difference in the overall level of satisfaction between both groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.183).ConclusionPB-ARS has a minimal and insignificant effect on the short- and long-term retention of orthodontic knowledge by male undergraduate dental students. PB-ARS was the preferred adjunct tool to conventional classroom teaching. Due to the limitations of this trial, a long-term randomised controlled trial with a larger sample size is recommended.

An assessment of knowledge and application of lingual orthodontics among orthodontists in their routine clinical practice

With orthodontic patient demographics expanding to involve more adults, the demand for esthetic appliances is greater and orthodontists are keen on offering their patients more discreet and even invisible options. Lingual orthodontics is a very viable field which offers all this, and it is noteworthy that more and more orthodontists in India are practicing the craft.This questionnaire based survey aims to assess the knowledge and application of Lingual Orthodontics among Orthodontists in their routine clinical practice in India.A sample of 157 participants (orthodontists) was taken after assessing the sample size within the age group of 27 - 50 years of age. The participants comprised of orthodontists practicing in various parts of India. A Questionnaire was created on Google forms and circulated to participants using various social media platforms. The data of responses of participants were analyzed and evaluated with the help of pie charts.This survey analyzed the knowledge and application of Lingual Orthodontics among Orthodontists in their routine clinical practice in India. The results highlighted certain key points ; Majority of the Orthodontists in India did not practice Lingual Orthodonticsand if a patient demanded Lingual braces, majority of the Orthodontists convinced them for conventional braces. Majority of the Orthodontists also reported of not being comfortable practicing Lingual Orthodontics and were not even certified as trained Lingual Orthodontists. They reported of facing certain problems like long treatment duration, more frequent patient visits, increased appointment duration, increased breakages and increased patient discomfort. Most of the participants suggested that conventional braces were better than Lingual braces and they also felt that Lingual Orthodontics took up a lot of clinical chair side time. Maximum participants reported of frequently using conventional braces in their routine clinical practice. They also felt that there was a need to conduct increased awareness and training programs in lingual Orthodontics and a whopping majority also believed that Lingual Orthodontics had now become obsolete.This questionnaire based survey clearly helped in analyzing the knowledge and application of Lingual Orthodontics among Orthodontists in their routine clinical practice in India. Increased awareness and training programs in lingual Orthodontics need to be conducted in India as there were very few Orthodontic clinicians practicing lingual Orthodontics in routine practice.

Awareness and knowledge of orthodontics: its implications among medical and dental undergraduates at the University of Port- Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Objective: To assess the level of awareness and knowledge of orthodontics, as well as its implications, among medical and dental undergraduates at the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Method: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 160 medical and dental students in their lecture rooms. The students were in different levels of study; ranging from first year to final year, i.e. both pre-clinical and clinical. The questionnaire examined their awareness and knowledge of orthodontics, as well as their past dental experiences, if any. It also included questions such as whether a medical doctor should refer patients with malocclusion to an orthodontist, and whether respondents would refer patients with malocclusions to an orthodontist. Statistical analyses were carried out with Epi-info version 7.0 on a personal laptop computer.Result: Only 147 (92%) questionnaires were properly completed and analyzed. Dental students were significantly more aware of orthodontics than their medical counterparts (p = 0.029). Over half of the students (53.7%) had never heard of the term 'malocclusion'. Majority (91.2%) of those who had heard of the term 'malocclusion' answered correctly that it refers to 'badly arranged teeth', while a quarter of them (25.5%) believed that malocclusion affects appearance alone.Conclusion: Generally, the knowledge of orthodontics as a specialty in dentistry, malocclusion and its impacts, as well as benefits from treatment is very poor among these undergraduates in the College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt. There is a need to include an introductory course in orthodontics in the undergraduate medical curricula.&#x0D;

Attitude and Knowledge of Orthodontics among General Dentists and Non-Orthodontic Specialists: A Questionnaire Based Survey

Attitude and Knowledge of Orthodontics among General Dentists and Non-Orthodontic Specialists: A Questionnaire Based Survey