Brazilian adolescents' perception of the orthodontic appliance: A qualitative study

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics Vol. 155; no. 4; pp. 490 - 497
• Main Authors: Barbosa de Almeida, Anderson, Leite, Isabel Cristina Gonçalves, Alves da Silva, Girlene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-04-2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Attitude to Health; Brazil; Child; Dentistry; Esthetics, Dental; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Orthodontic Appliances, Fixed; Qualitative Research; Self Concept; Brazil
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2018.05.020

Orthodontic treatment has a significant impact on the quality of life and self-esteem of adolescents, with emotional and behavioral implications. The objective of this research was to understand Brazilian adolescents' perception of the orthodontic treatment.
A qualitative research study was carried out through content analysis of data collected from 142 adolescents using the word-association technique (WAT), followed by 8 focus groups with 71 of these students.
The most recurrent words on the WAT demonstrated a positive esthetic impact of the orthodontic appliance, both for the adolescents' self-assessment and in the assessment of friends. Several themes were identified in the qualitative analysis, with the esthetic benefit of orthodontic treatment and the esthetic impact of the appliance being the most relevant positive points. The most-cited negative aspect in the study was the pain associated with the treatment, followed by the discomfort and trauma caused by the fixed appliance.
Orthodontic treatment has a positive esthetic impact for Brazilian adolescents, with improvement of their self-image. Fixed orthodontic appliances have an immediate positive impact on appearance and are an important factor in behavioral relationships among Brazilian adolescents, particularly owing to their association with social status. The understanding of the sociobehavioral aspects involved in orthodontic treatment is of fundamental importance for the clinical relationship between patient and professional.
•Orthodontic treatment has a positive esthetic impact for Brazilian adolescents, with improved self-image.•The fixed orthodontic appliance has an immediate positive impact on the appearance.•The adolescents' perception of the treatment/orthodontic appliance is of great importance owing to the intensity and complexity of their social, emotional, and behavioral relationships.