Year : 2020

Volume : Volume 11

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Swati Saraswata Acharya.
swati.acharya.tmdc@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  The orthodontic treatment (OT) of disabled patients has been viewed  in many case series by various authors  in literature. Parents play a significant role  in the  orthodontic care and are the most vital people in the motivation for treatment in such group of patients. These disabled patients need OT  to achieve good esthetics and function. Lots of ethical issues involve treating patients orthodontically. The aim of this study was to evaluate motivation, attitude, expectations and satisfaction with OT among parents of patients with special needs. Materials and Methods: The parents of 50 special needs Indian children with physical, mental and sensory impairment undergoing OT were surveyed. The survey was done based on attitudes towards treatment and satisfaction level with outcomes. The survey comprised of 20 questions in 4 categories: attitude with adaptation, advantages, side effects, and satisfaction level after OT. A control group comprised of parents of 50 normal healthy children undergoing OT in the same institution. Results: Parents of special needs children undergoing OT showed increased levels  of motivation and they are cooperating  to participate  in oral hygiene procedures. Wearing of removable appliances in disabled children was moderate in comparison to fixed appliances. There was improvement in functionality, quality of life and socio-economic concerns in disabled children. Conclusions: The perceived level of satisfaction and expectations were high amongst the parents of special needs children with orthodontic treatment.

Keywords: Disabled, Functionality, Motivation, Orthodontic, Satisfaction, Special needs.