<p>Patients’ Perceptions To Reduced Orthodontic Treatment Time In Saudi Arabia</p>

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate patients’ perceptions regarding orthodontic treatment duration, cost, and willingness to undergo different procedures and techniques available to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement in Saudi Arabia.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia from January to March 2019. Patients from multiple centers were electronically surveyed regarding their perception of orthodontic treatment duration, acceptance of appliances and techniques available to shorten the duration of orthodontic treatment, and how much increase in fees they were willing to pay for those appliances and techniques. Descriptive and group comparison statistics were conducted, and the significance level was set at p<0.05.ResultsThe response rate was 200/400 (50%): 50.5% were (>18–25 years old), 67.5% female, 80% Saudi, 67.5% self-pay and 52% with annual income <10,000 SR. A total of 83% of the participants agree that orthodontic treatment takes too long, and 55.5% wish it takes less than 6 months. The preferences for additional procedures were ranked in the following order: customized wires ranked 1 by 52.5%, followed by FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved teeth vibrators by 40.5%, FDA approved drug injections by 33.5%, piezocision by 32.5%, and corticotomies by 46% of the participants. No significant differences in ranking between the groups according to age and annual income (p>0.05). 47.5% of the participants were able to pay for additional procedures. An increase in treatment fees was reported for up to (30–40%) for FDA approved teeth vibrators by 59% of the participants, followed by FDA approved drug injections by 33% of the participants. A significant difference in responses between the groups was reported according to gender and annual income (p<0.05).ConclusionMost of the patients strongly agreed that orthodontics treatment takes too long. The highest percentages of patients perceived customized wires as the most acceptable technique to undergo to shorten orthodontic treatment duration, followed by teeth vibrators.

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

“… 2 Linjawi et al, also found that females and patients aged between 18-25 years old were more interested in orthodontic treatment. 24 …”

“…Similar findings were also reported by Linjawi et al, although they had a broader age group and gender distribution. 24 Likewise, one-third of the adult patients interviewed by Uribe and others suggested that orthodontic treatment took longer duration and more than half of them wished that orthodontic treatment could last for 12 months or less. On the other hand, adolescent patients preferred shorter period of orthodontic treatment.…”

“…Likewise, many studies reported that less-invasive nonsurgical techniques and procedures were more preferred by patients. 16 - 18 , 24 …”

“…Despite the differences in age groups included in all studies, findings of the current study and previous studies all confirmed that patients want to reduce orthodontic treatment time but are not welling to increase the treatment fees for more than 20% and are not welling to undergo invasive procedures. 4 , 24 In contrary, Bindayel as well as Alansari et al surveyed a similar population for their willingness to pay additional fees for more esthetic orthodontic appliances. Both studies found that adult patients are willing to pay for more esthetic orthodontic appliances for their own but not for their children.…”

“…2 Linjawi et al, also found that females and patients aged between 18-25 years old were more interested in orthodontic treatment. 24 About 72% of the respondents agreed that the extent of orthodontic treatment is too long and about nearly half of them wished that it could last for less than 6 months. In addition, they preferred to undergo supplemental approaches for a 25% to 30% decline in duration with no significant differences between gender.…”