Evaluation of expectation of patients and their parents from orthodontic treatment in babol in 2016-2017

Introduction: The aim of this study was to recognize and investigate the expectations of patients and their parents from orthodontic treatment in order to increase the satisfaction from treatment outcome and enhance the patients’ cooperation in Babol in 2017. Materials & Methods: Totally, 200 people (100 patients aged 12-18 with one of their parents) who were attending for their first orthodontic treatment session participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire which was translated by Forward-Backward method from English to Persian language. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 through descriptive statistics and t-tests. Results: The most important expectations of patients and their parents from the first appointment of orthodontic treatment were check -up, diagnosis, discussion about treatment, and oral hygiene checking. Patients’ expectations from first appointment were higher than their parents in “brace being fitted” (p=0.001), lower in “have a discussion about treatment plan” (p=0.006), “have x-rays” (p=0.003), and “have oral hygiene checked” (p=0.03). The highest expectation of patients as well as their parents from the type of orthodontic treatment was fixed braces. The main expectation of patients and parents from orthodontic treatment was the demand for straightening teeth and improving aesthetics. Conclusion: Parents than patients had more reasonable expectations from the first appointment of orthodontic treatment. Parents had higher expectations from orthodontic treatment benefits. Age and gender did not have significant effect on the type and level of expectations of parents and patients.