Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists

Background/Aim. Dentists and particularly general dental practitioners (GDPs) should be able to identify problems such as malocclusions and refer patients with such problems to orthodontics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the awareness of orthodontic problems and referral practices among GDPs...

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Main Authors: Kamran Muhammad Abdullah, Saddah Rawan Ahmed, Alasmari Afnan Mohammed, Almoammar Salem, Alnazeh Abdullah A., Alshahrani Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2022-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100026K.pdf
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author Kamran Muhammad Abdullah
Saddah Rawan Ahmed
Alasmari Afnan Mohammed
Almoammar Salem
Alnazeh Abdullah A.
Alshahrani Ibrahim
author_facet Kamran Muhammad Abdullah
Saddah Rawan Ahmed
Alasmari Afnan Mohammed
Almoammar Salem
Alnazeh Abdullah A.
Alshahrani Ibrahim
author_sort Kamran Muhammad Abdullah
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aim. Dentists and particularly general dental practitioners (GDPs) should be able to identify problems such as malocclusions and refer patients with such problems to orthodontics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the awareness of orthodontic problems and referral practices among GDPs and non-orthodontic specialists practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods. A cross-sectional prospective study included GDP and specialists/consultants of both genders, aged between 22–60 years, practicing general dentistry and specialists other than orthodontics who had worked in their field for two or more years. Non-practicing dentists and nonregistered dentists were excluded. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 21.00. Results. Among the respondents, 55.5% were men, and 44% were GDPs. Out of the total number of respondents, 107 (53.5%) GDPs and 66 (33%) non-orthodontic specialists practiced orthodontic referral in their practices. By using the χ2 test, statistical analysis of different variables depending on the participants’ gender and specialty was performed. It revealed that variables with significant p-value were: orthodontist referral, the recommendation of orthodontic treatment only after the eruption of all permanent teeth, awareness of tooth extraction for alignment of irregular teeth, and awareness regarding worsening of temporomandibular joint problems by orthodontic treatment. Conclusion. The referral practices of dentists practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning orthodontic patients were satisfactory, although awareness regarding orthodontic problems requires continuous learning and considerate positive progression toward basic orthodontics.
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spelling doaj-art-bfa372678dc94dfa95ad5df585a11dfd2025-08-20T02:02:28ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202022-01-0179769269610.2298/VSP200807026K0042-84502100026KAwareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialistsKamran Muhammad Abdullah0Saddah Rawan Ahmed1Alasmari Afnan Mohammed2Almoammar Salem3Alnazeh Abdullah A.4Alshahrani Ibrahim5King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaKing Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Dental Interns, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaKing Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Dental Interns, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaKing Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaKing Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaKing Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaBackground/Aim. Dentists and particularly general dental practitioners (GDPs) should be able to identify problems such as malocclusions and refer patients with such problems to orthodontics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the awareness of orthodontic problems and referral practices among GDPs and non-orthodontic specialists practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods. A cross-sectional prospective study included GDP and specialists/consultants of both genders, aged between 22–60 years, practicing general dentistry and specialists other than orthodontics who had worked in their field for two or more years. Non-practicing dentists and nonregistered dentists were excluded. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 21.00. Results. Among the respondents, 55.5% were men, and 44% were GDPs. Out of the total number of respondents, 107 (53.5%) GDPs and 66 (33%) non-orthodontic specialists practiced orthodontic referral in their practices. By using the χ2 test, statistical analysis of different variables depending on the participants’ gender and specialty was performed. It revealed that variables with significant p-value were: orthodontist referral, the recommendation of orthodontic treatment only after the eruption of all permanent teeth, awareness of tooth extraction for alignment of irregular teeth, and awareness regarding worsening of temporomandibular joint problems by orthodontic treatment. Conclusion. The referral practices of dentists practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning orthodontic patients were satisfactory, although awareness regarding orthodontic problems requires continuous learning and considerate positive progression toward basic orthodontics.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100026K.pdfdentistsknowledgeorthodonticsreferral and consultationsurveys and questionnaires
spellingShingle Kamran Muhammad Abdullah
Saddah Rawan Ahmed
Alasmari Afnan Mohammed
Almoammar Salem
Alnazeh Abdullah A.
Alshahrani Ibrahim
Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
dentists
knowledge
orthodontics
referral and consultation
surveys and questionnaires
title Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists
title_full Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists
title_fullStr Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists
title_full_unstemmed Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists
title_short Awareness of patient’s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non-orthodontic specialists
title_sort awareness of patient s orthodontic problems and referral practices among general dental practitioners and non orthodontic specialists
topic dentists
knowledge
orthodontics
referral and consultation
surveys and questionnaires
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100026K.pdf
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