Comparison of academic and nonacademic surgeons in treatment planning for CIII borderline case

Objectives In borderline class III malocclusions, the patients can be successfully treated by the orthodontic or surgical modalities, however; there is no consensus about the method with the best results regarding functional and esthetic parameters. The present study aimed to assess the treatment plans provided by academic and non-academic surgeons regarding borderline class III patients. Methods In this cross-sectional descriptive study, diagnostic records of 20 borderline class III patients were assessed by 8 academic and 8 non-academic surgeons. The treatment plans suggested by the surgeons for patients were compared with the standard treatment plan based on case presentation. The data were analyzed by paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, Kappa coefficient, independent t-test and Chi-square test. Results No significant differences were found between academic and non-academic orthodontists when suggesting orthodontic treatment (p=0.54), orthognathic surgery (p=0.1), single or double jaw orthognathic surgery (p=0.68) and the treatment plans in total (p=0.78) when compared with the standard treatment plan. The mean rate of agreement between the standard treatment plan and the academic and non-academic surgeons’ treatment plan for borderline class III patients was 75.0%±17.41% and 80.0%±17.73% for the orthodontic treatment plan, 80.0%±7.56% and 80.0%±17.73% for the surgical treatment plan, 70.55%±9.4% and 68.61%±9.08% for single or double jaw orthognathic surgery treatment plan, and 79.83%±7.76% and 80.63%±9.79% for the treatment plans in total, respectively. Conclusion Academic and non-academic surgeons both showed higher agreements with the standard treatment plan when suggesting orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatment plans for borderline class III patients.