A Study on Motivation of Patients Coming to Specialized Orthodontic Clinics for Treatment

Aim: Assessment of patient's motivations requesting orthodontic treatment can help clinicians in meeting the needs and expectations of patients and attain a successful treatment result.Objective: The present study was carried out in ۲۰۰۸ to provide data regarding motives of patients coming to specialized orthodontic clinics of Qazvin for treatment.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, ۳۰۰ patients aged ۱۲ years old and more (۲۷.۳% males, ۷۲.۷% females, the mean age: ۱۹.۶۱ years) were studied. Age, gender, parents’ level of education, and father’s occupation, motives for improving teeth and face components; and the location of pain and discomfort were evaluated. The correlation between motives and different socioeconomic factors were assessed using Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Alignment of the anterior teeth was the most frequent motive regarding the teeth (۸۹.۳%). However, for face components ,it was improving teeth and gingival view during smiling (۱۸.۷%). Significant correlations were noted between patients' gender and motivation to align anterior teeth (p<۰.۰۰۹), movement of the lip (p<۰.۰۱), change of the nose length (p<۰.۰۰۲) and position (p<۰.۰۳) while females had higher motivation for these changes. As mothers’ level of education increased, the motivation to change the height of anterior teeth (p<۰.۰۳), improving the teeth and gingival appearance during smiling (p<۰.۰۰۱), decreasing the lip or chin tension in the closure of the lips (p<۰.۰۵) and decreasing the prominence or width of the mandible toward the mouth (p<۰.۰۱) decreased significantly. Conclusion: Alignment of anterior teeth and improving the teeth or gingival appearance during smiling were found to be major motives for requesting orthodontic treatments.