Tendency, motivation, and barriers of orthodontic treatment in orthodontic patients in Rasht in 2018

The number of people demanding orthodontic treatment for their psychosocial problems related to facial aesthetic is growing. The aim of this study was to evaluate tendency, motivation, and barriers of orthodontic treatment in patients  referred to orthodontic offices in Rasht in 2018.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 171 adults over 20 years of age who referred to orthodontic clinics in Rasht in 2018. The data collection tool was a questionnaire designed based on other studies. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions and three parts: personal characteristics, motivation for using orthodontics treatments, and questions about motivations, main obstacles, and the main causes of using orthodontic treatments.

The level of motivation and tendency for orthodontic treatment was high. There was a direct and significant relationship between motivation and tendency to  orthodontic treatment (p<0.001). Encouraging one to decide about orthodontic treatment was the first priority. Regarding common problems, the first problem was about the appearance after the treatment, and the second problem was the problems of chewing and eating which takes longer in these patients.

The motivation toward orthodontic treatment was high. The first  motivation for seeking treatment was dissatisfaction with one’s appearance and  demanding a better appearance. The main orthodontic obstacles were high costs and visible orthodontic appliances.