Esthetic perception of orthodontic appliances by Brazilian children and adolescents

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this present study was to understand how children and adolescents perceive esthetic attractiveness of a variety of orthodontic appliances. It also analyzed preferences according to patients' age, sex and socioeconomic status. Methods: A photograph album consisting of eight photographs of different orthodontic appliances and clear tray aligners placed in a consenting adult with pleasing smile was used. A sample of children or adolescents aged between 8 and 17 years old (n = 276) was asked to rate each image for its attractiveness on a visual analog scale. Comparisons between the appliances attractiveness were performed by means of nonparametric statistics with Friedman's test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison post-hoc test. Correlation between appliances and individuals' socioeconomic status, age, sex, and esthetic perception was assessed by means of Spearman's correlation analysis. Results: Attractiveness ratings of orthodontic appliances varied nonsignificantly for children in the following hierarchy: traditional metallic brackets with green elastomeric ligatures > traditional metallic brackets with gray elastomeric ligatures > sapphire esthetic brackets; and for adolescents, as follows: sapphire esthetic brackets > clear aligner without attachments > traditional metallic brackets with green elastomeric ligatures. The correlation between individuals' socioeconomic status and esthetic perception of a given appliance was negative and statistically significant for appliances such as the golden orthodontic brackets and traditional metallic brackets with green elastomeric ligatures. Conclusion: Metal appliances were considered very attractive, whereas aligners were classified as less attractive by children and adolescents. The correlation between esthetic perception and socioeconomic status revealed that individuals with a higher socioeconomic level judged esthetics as the most attractive attribute. For those with higher economic status, golden orthodontic brackets and traditional metallic brackets with green elastomeric ligatures were assessed as the worst esthetic option.

The influence of elastomeric ligatures pigmentation on smile aesthetics during orthodontic treatment

“…The aesthetic importance of the smile has been extensively discussed in the literature. 2,[17][18][19] Orthodontics, a dental specialty that works directly with smile aesthetics, requires continuous updating of its material collection to keep up with the demands of the overall population. 4,5,[20][21][22][23][24] Therefore, testing the color change of elastomeric ligatures is required to guide orthodontists seeking to respect the decision of patients desiring an aesthetic smile even during orthodontic treatment.…”

Ligaduras ortodônticas elastoméricas estéticas: alteração de cor, ultraestrutura da superfície (MEV) e propriedade elástica após uso de dentifrício clareador (estudo in vivo)

“…Após o uso do dentifrício convencional e clareador, resultados semelhantes foram metálico" e avaliam bráquetes cerâmicos como mais agradáveis (Kuhlman et al, 2016).…”

“…American Orthodontics e 3M Unitek são amplamente conhecidas e utilizadas em todo o mundo sendo alvo de inúmeras investigações (Talic e Almudhi, 2016;Kuhlman et al, 2016;Kawabata et al, 2016). Já a marca Orthotechnology, menos estudada, foi incluída pela experiência clínica do autor estando presente na recente pesquisa .…”

Ligaduras ortodônticas elastoméricas estéticas: quantificação de endotoxina bacteriana in vitro e in vivo

“…Existem disponíveis no mercado odontológico inúmeros tipos de ligaduras elastoméricas utilizadas na clínica ortodôntica para a fixação dos arcos metálicos ortodônticos. No presente estudo foram utilizadas as ligaduras elastoméricas estéticas devido à crescente busca dos pacientes por materiais estéticos (Kuhlman et al, 2016). Rosvall et al (2009) investigaram a percepção dos pacientes com relação à estética dos aparelhos ortodônticos e observaram que os adultos valorizam mais os materiais estéticos, em detrimento dos materiais metálicos, e que os materiais estéticos aumentaram a aderência dos pacientes ao tratamento.…”

“…Kusy, 1994) e borracha butadieno-estireno (SBR).Paralelamente, a crescente demanda por estética na Ortodontia mostrou uma urgência em incorporar materiais estéticos no tratamento ortodôntico, incluindo bráquetes cerâmicos e ligaduras elastoméricas estéticas, na busca por aparelhos mais discretos e por uma maior aceitabilidade do tratamento pelos pacientes(Kuhlman et al, 2016).Todos os materiais utilizados durante os experimentos, incluindo ponteiras, tubos de vidro, tubos de plástico (tubos Falcon), tubos plásticos para microcentrífuga e placas de cultura de células, foram obtidos, livres de pirogênio, diretamente do fabricante. As pinças para manuseio das ligaduras elastoméricas no Laboratório de…”