<p>Adult Perceptions of Different Orthodontic Appliances</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Pursuing an esthetically-pleasing orthodontic outcome, orthodontic patients must consider and choose from the different available options of orthodontic appliance. Practitioners need to be better informed of their customers’ preferences to make better practice management decisions and satisfy their patients’ needs.PurposeTo explore adult laypeople’s perceptions of the attractiveness, acceptability, preference and economic value of different orthodontic appliances when they consider these appliances for themselves and for their children.Patients and methodsThis cross-sectional survey included 199 adults (110 females). The average age of participants was 27.7 years. Participants answered a questionnaire evaluating and comparing multiple smiling images of an adult wearing different orthodontic appliances. Participants rated each appliance for: (1) attractiveness on a Likert scale; (2) acceptability of having the appliance placed for themselves and their children (with a yes/no response); (3) preference (by ranking all appliances in order); and (4) economic value (by providing the additional amount they are willing to pay for each appliance for themselves and their children).ResultsWe found a statistically significant difference in the attractiveness scores between the different orthodontic appliances (p< 0.0001). The most attractive appliances were clear aligners and lingual brackets. The least attractive appliances were colored o-tied-brackets followed by shaped-brackets. Clear aligners were the most acceptable appliances among our participants to have placed on themselves (86.9%) and their children (84.9%). Shaped brackets were the least acceptable appliances among our participants to have placed on themselves (24.1%) and their children (36.2%). The most preferred appliances were lingual brackets (39.2%), followed by clear aligners (34.17%). The least preferred appliances were colored o-tied-brackets (4%). Participants varied with regards to how much more they were willing to pay for each of the different orthodontic appliances. The majority were willing to pay more for clear aligners and lingual brackets to have them placed on themselves but not to have them placed on their children.ConclusionAdults preferred more innovative esthetic appliances over traditional ones and were willing to pay more to have them placed on themselves but not on their children.

Young Adults’ Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Invasive and Non-invasive Accelerated Orthodontic Treatment: A Comparative Study

“…Both studies found that adult patients are willing to pay for more esthetic orthodontic appliances for their own but not for their children. 21 , 25 …”

“…Both studies found that adult patients are willing to pay for more esthetic orthodontic appliances for their own but not for their children. 21,25 This is a cross-sectional survey, thus, there might be a limitation of information bias. The patients might not be fully aware of the type of surgeries, medications, or customized appliances used to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement.…”

<p>Youth Perception of Different Orthodontic Appliances</p>

“…[4][5][6][7] However, lay people's perception of orthodontic appliances revealed differences that may vary with age and social or cultural values. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Adults from the USA and Brazil were found to give high esthetic value to inconspicuous appliances such as clear aligners, lingual brackets, and tooth-colored brackets. 8,9 A study found Iranian adults to also prefer clear aligners but to extremely disapprove of lingual brackets.…”

“…11 Adults in Saudi Arabia also echoed American and Brazilian adults in their high preference for inconspicuous orthodontic appliances like clear aligners and lingual brackets. 13 To investigate the esthetic value of orthodontic appliances for youth consumers, some studies asked adults about their preference for their kids. 9,12,13 Only two studies from the United States and Brazil directly addressed youth orthodontic appliance preferences.…”

“…13 To investigate the esthetic value of orthodontic appliances for youth consumers, some studies asked adults about their preference for their kids. 9,12,13 Only two studies from the United States and Brazil directly addressed youth orthodontic appliance preferences. 14,15 Youth appliance perceptions and preferences were not studied in Arab countries.…”