Motivation for and satisfaction with orthodontic-surgical treatment: a retrospective study of 28 patients

• Published in: European journal of orthodontics Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 79 - 87
• Main Authors: Nurminen, L, Pietilä, T, Vinkka-Puhakka, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-02-1999; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Dental Occlusion; Dentistry; Esthetics, Dental; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Headache - therapy; Humans; Hypesthesia - etiology; Jaw Diseases - etiology; Lip Diseases - etiology; Male; Malocclusion - physiopathology; Malocclusion - psychology; Malocclusion - surgery; Malocclusion - therapy; Mastication; Middle Aged; Motivation; Orthodontic Appliances - adverse effects; Orthodontics, Corrective; Pain - etiology; Patient Satisfaction; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0141-5387; 1460-2210
• DOI: 10.1093/ejo/21.1.79

Motivation for starting treatment and satisfaction with treatment results were evaluated on the basis of replies to a 14-item questionnaire and clinical examination of 28 orthognathic patients from 6 months to 2 years after treatment. The most common reasons for seeking professional help were problems in biting and chewing (68 per cent). Another major reason was dissatisfaction with facial appearance (36 per cent). Many patients also complained of temporomandibular joint symptoms (32 per cent) and headache (32 per cent). Women (8/19) were more often dissatisfied with their facial appearance than men (2/9), but the difference was not statistically significant. In agreement with earlier studies, the results of orthognathic treatment fulfilled the expectations of almost every patient. Nearly 100 per cent of the patients (27/28) were satisfied with treatment results, although 40 per cent experienced some degree of numbness in the lips and/or jaw 1 year post-operatively. The most satisfied patients were those who stated temporomandibular disorders as the main reason for seeking treatment and whose PAR-index had improved greatly. The majority of the patients experienced the orthodontic treatment as painful and as the most unpleasant part of the whole treatment, but all the patients were satisfied with the pre-treatment information they were given on orthodontics. Orthodontic-surgical therapy should be of a high professional standard technically, but the psychological aspects are equally important in the treatment protocol. The professionals should make efforts to understand the patient's motivations for and expectations of treatment. Patients should be well prepared for the surgery and supported for a long time after to help them to adjust to post-surgical changes.