title: Perceptions of Young Adults Having Undergone Combined Orthodontic and Orthognathic Surgical Treatment: A Grounded Theory Approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present qualitative study aimed to explore the subjective perceptions and values of young adults having undergone combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment to resolve their dentofacial deformity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten participants (5 women and 5 men; 20 to 25 yr of age) whose combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment had been terminated 1 to 3 years before undertaking the present study were selected. Open in-depth interviews, of approximately 30 minutes' duration, were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interviews were analyzed using procedures inherent to the grounded theory approach, a qualitative approach to collecting and analyzing data that aims to develop a theoretical proposition grounded in real-world observations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A core category was identified describing the participants' satisfaction with treatment outcome despite the difficult experiences that they lived through during the orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment. In association to the core category, 6 other categories emerged: experiences shared by those already having undergone similar treatment; shock for family and close friends at the hospital; difficulty eating; pain caused by orthodontic treatment; fears caused by swelling and complications; and smiling with self-confidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better understanding of patients' views on combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment can assist health care professionals in properly counseling patients and their families and providing better patient-centered care.
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, School of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sadat-Marashi
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scolozzi
authors.affiliation: Orthodontist, Department of Orthodontics, University Clinic of Dental Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: gantonarakis@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Antonarakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D055815:Young Adult