Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists

Objective: This study aims to assess the orthodontic diagnostic skills, referral patterns, and the perceptions of orthodontic benefits of pediatric and general dentists in comparison with orthodontists. Materials and methods: Two online surveys were e-mailed to pediatric dentists, general dentistry...

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Main Authors: Abdullah M. Aldrees, Nada E. Tashkandi, Areej A. AlWanis, Munerah S. AlSanouni, Nasir H. Al-Hamlan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2015-01-01
Series:Saudi Dental Journal
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905214000819
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author Abdullah M. Aldrees
Nada E. Tashkandi
Areej A. AlWanis
Munerah S. AlSanouni
Nasir H. Al-Hamlan
author_facet Abdullah M. Aldrees
Nada E. Tashkandi
Areej A. AlWanis
Munerah S. AlSanouni
Nasir H. Al-Hamlan
author_sort Abdullah M. Aldrees
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This study aims to assess the orthodontic diagnostic skills, referral patterns, and the perceptions of orthodontic benefits of pediatric and general dentists in comparison with orthodontists. Materials and methods: Two online surveys were e-mailed to pediatric dentists, general dentistry practitioners, and orthodontists registered as members of the Saudi Dental Society and the Saudi Orthodontic Society. The surveys included questions about the type of orthodontic treatment provided, referral trends, and timing; presumed benefits associated with successful orthodontic treatment; and diagnosis and treatment plans of seven cases representing different malocclusions. Results: In total, 25 orthodontists, 18 pediatric dentists, and 14 general practitioners completed the survey. Only 38.8% of pediatric dentists and 7.1% of general practitioners reported that they practiced orthodontics clinically. The perceptions of the three groups toward the benefits of orthodontic treatment were comparable in the psychosocial areas. However, the orthodontists perceived significantly lesser effects of orthodontic treatment on the amelioration of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms. Pediatric dentists tended to rate the need and urgency of treatment higher, while general practitioners tended to rate the need of treatment lower. The selected treatment plans for three early malocclusion cases showed the greatest discrepancies between the orthodontists and the other two groups. Conclusions: The orthodontists consistently and significantly downplayed the perceived benefit of orthodontic treatment to reduce TMD symptoms. Also, while there was a similarity in the diagnosis, there were notable differences in the proposed treatment approaches, perceived treatment need, and timing of intervention between the three groups of practitioners. Keywords: Orthodontist, Pediatric dentist, General practitioners, Perception, Knowledge
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spelling doaj-art-3a336e9f3fea4f29ab2bf8d0c116e5692025-08-20T02:16:32ZengSpringerSaudi Dental Journal1013-90522015-01-01271303910.1016/j.sdentj.2014.11.001Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontistsAbdullah M. Aldrees0Nada E. Tashkandi1Areej A. AlWanis2Munerah S. AlSanouni3Nasir H. Al-Hamlan4Division of Orthodontics, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 60169-38, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. Tel.: +966 11 8051975.College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaKSAU-HS, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaObjective: This study aims to assess the orthodontic diagnostic skills, referral patterns, and the perceptions of orthodontic benefits of pediatric and general dentists in comparison with orthodontists. Materials and methods: Two online surveys were e-mailed to pediatric dentists, general dentistry practitioners, and orthodontists registered as members of the Saudi Dental Society and the Saudi Orthodontic Society. The surveys included questions about the type of orthodontic treatment provided, referral trends, and timing; presumed benefits associated with successful orthodontic treatment; and diagnosis and treatment plans of seven cases representing different malocclusions. Results: In total, 25 orthodontists, 18 pediatric dentists, and 14 general practitioners completed the survey. Only 38.8% of pediatric dentists and 7.1% of general practitioners reported that they practiced orthodontics clinically. The perceptions of the three groups toward the benefits of orthodontic treatment were comparable in the psychosocial areas. However, the orthodontists perceived significantly lesser effects of orthodontic treatment on the amelioration of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms. Pediatric dentists tended to rate the need and urgency of treatment higher, while general practitioners tended to rate the need of treatment lower. The selected treatment plans for three early malocclusion cases showed the greatest discrepancies between the orthodontists and the other two groups. Conclusions: The orthodontists consistently and significantly downplayed the perceived benefit of orthodontic treatment to reduce TMD symptoms. Also, while there was a similarity in the diagnosis, there were notable differences in the proposed treatment approaches, perceived treatment need, and timing of intervention between the three groups of practitioners. Keywords: Orthodontist, Pediatric dentist, General practitioners, Perception, Knowledgehttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905214000819
spellingShingle Abdullah M. Aldrees
Nada E. Tashkandi
Areej A. AlWanis
Munerah S. AlSanouni
Nasir H. Al-Hamlan
Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists
Saudi Dental Journal
title Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists
title_full Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists
title_fullStr Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists
title_full_unstemmed Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists
title_short Orthodontic treatment and referral patterns: A survey of pediatric dentists, general practitioners, and orthodontists
title_sort orthodontic treatment and referral patterns a survey of pediatric dentists general practitioners and orthodontists
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905214000819
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