title: Evaluation of long-term satisfaction with orthodontic treatment for skeletal class III individuals.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term satisfaction rate among skeletal class III patients following orthodontic treatment. Questionnaires were sent to 315 post-retention (between 5 to 22.5 years) patients who had received orthodontic treatment without any type of surgery for the correction of skeletal class III malocclusion. The questionnaire contained 28 questions: 10 regarding orthodontic treatment, 13 regarding satisfaction with orthodontic treatment outcomes, and five regarding psychosocial benefits of orthodontic treatment. The frequency of each variable was calculated and chi-squared test was used to determine gender correlations. The survey response rate was 15.8% (n = 40). Most patients were satisfied with their facial appearance (92.5%) and final esthetic profile (95%). Of the 5% who were dissatisfied with their final profiles, prognathic mandible was given as the reason. Most patients (90%) were satisfied with the overall treatment results. Moreover, patient perceptions of psychosocial benefits of treatment were mainly positive, with the majority (72.5%) stating their social communication had improved following orthodontic treatment. Chi-squared test indicated almost no variations in response by gender. In conclusion, the majority of skeletal class III patients in the long-term post-retention period who had received orthodontic treatment were satisfied with the overall treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Turkey. osgeuslu@yahoo.com <osgeuslu@yahoo.com>
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: M Okan
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Akcam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008409:Mastication; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D013060:Speech; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires