Adult orthodontic patients in primary care and their motivation for seeking treatment

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The study aims to provide information on why adults seek orthodontic treatment in a primary care setting. One hundred patients self-completed a questionnaire previously validated in a secondary care setting. Females accounted for 73% (n = 73) of respondents and the mean age for respondents was 29 years (range 17–50). The main reasons for wanting orthodontic treatment were to straighten their teeth (85%) followed by wanting to improve their smile (79%). The main perceived benefits of orthodontic treatment were an improved appearance (79%), being less likely to be self-conscious about their own smile (57%) and improved self-confidence and/or self-esteem (52%). Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of motivating factors of adults seeking orthodontic treatment may help reduce patient dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes.