Orthodontic treatment motivation and cooperation: A cross-sectional analysis of adolescent patients' and parents' responses

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Motivation for orthodontic treatment among adolescents has been linked with patients’ response during treatment. Parents have also been seen to be influencing factors in patient motivation. This study investigates the motivation for orthodontic treatment among patients and their parents/guardians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from 100 orthodontic children (41 boys, 59 girls), with a mean age of 11.9 years, in the age range of 7–17 years, and with parents/guardians from three public hospitals. Recruitment focused on patients and their parents at their initial screening appointment and those scheduled for regular orthodontic treatment. Data were collected by the use of survey forms for both patients and parents. Data were analyzed using Epi info™ version 3.5.1. RESULTS: Children were more motivated to have orthodontic treatment than their parents before treatment, however parents showed greater motivation for their children to have orthodontic treatment than did the children during treatment. Children on treatment were less motivated than those who have not started treatment. Using braces was more important to children than their parents. Parents of children on treatment were more motivated for their children to have orthodontic treatment than parents of children who were not yet on treatment. Children undergoing orthodontic treatment were not willing to have extractions as part of their treatment, while parents did not have much objections ( P = 0.001). Parents were willing to comply with dietary instructions imposed on their children. ( P = 0.45). Pretreatment, children were more willing to brush after meals than the ones undergoing treatment (0.010). CONCLUSION: Parents of children on treatment were more motivated for their children to have orthodontic treatment than parents of children who were not yet on treatment. Children on treatment were less motivated during treatment.

Psychology and Patient Cooperation in Orthodontics: Is There a Relationship between Them?

“…Unlike findings of the present study, Barbosa et al, found no significant difference between gender and bracket failure (22). Another factor influencing cooperation in orthodontic treatment is the attitude of the patient's parents/guardians toward orthodontic treatment before and during treatment (26). One study reported that fathers had a positive effect on cooperation, which was comparable to findings of the present study.…”

Parental influence in orthodontic treatment: a systematic review

“…The additional important findings of the included manuscripts comprised factors referred to as preponderant for adherence to orthodontic treatment including: duration of use of the appliance [ 8 , 14 ], the level of oral health of the patient [ 8 , 21 , 27 ] and attitude of the dentist [ 30 ]. A good relationship between the dentist and the parents was also referred as an important factor [ 2 , 21 , 26 ].…”

Statistical Study on the Motivation of Patients in the Pediatric Dentistry

“…Defined in a large sense, motivation is the set of dynamic factors that determine the behavior of an individual [ 1 ]. Intrinsic or extrinsic motivation produces different effects on the patient’s psyche, depending on their gender and age, temperament traits, and individual personality [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…The pedodontist or the orthodontist has the task of guiding the small patients towards the appropriate treatment, motivating them to accept it. Praise and encouragement are much more useful than punishment at a young age [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”