Social, intellectual, psychological, and attractiveness judgements of lay people about patients before and after combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Facial appearance plays a significant role in the success of social interactions. There is a limited amount of evidence investigating the influence of combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment on the social judgments of lay people. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in facial appearance following orthognathic surgery alter the social judgements made by lay people. ETHICAL APPROVAL: Ethical approval was granted from the University of Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry Research Ethics Committee on 17th August 2020 (Reference: 033775). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, web-based survey involved clinical photographs of six Caucasian female patients pre- and post-combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment. Three patients had a pre-treatment class 2 skeletal pattern, and three patients had a pre-treatment class 3 skeletal pattern. Staff and students at the University of Sheffield, UK were invited to evaluate five personality traits: (i) friendliness, (ii) intelligence, (iii) attractiveness, (iv) self-confidence, and (5) trustworthiness using a 5-point Likert scale. The trait scores were summed to obtain a total social judgement score, and a paired t-test was used to compare the total scores from pre- and post-treatment images. RESULTS: There were 261 responses to the survey of which 181 (75%) were completed fully. The total social judgement scores from after treatment images were higher compared with the pre-treatment images (mean diff 1.6; P < .001) indicating more positive social judgements. The improvements in perceived social judgments were more notable for class 3 patients (mean diff 2.7) compared to class 2 patients (mean diff 0.7). CONCLUSION: Social judgement scores were higher (more positive) from post-treatment images of patient faces than their pre-treatment images. The findings highlight the possible indirect benefits combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment may have on an individual in a social setting.

A two-centre study assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthodontic patients in secondary care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on patients in active orthodontic treatment. DESIGN: Digital online survey. SETTING: Two secondary care orthodontic departments in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: A prospective convenience sample of 103 patients in active orthodontic treatment. METHODS: A 12-item questionnaire developed using the platform SurveyMonkey was used to assess the following: (1) patient's feelings towards attending their orthodontic appointments; (2) their desire to continue with their treatment; (3) how many patients encountered problems with their appliance during the lockdown; (4) how patients sought help during the first national lockdown period; and (5) any other concerns regarding impact on their orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: A total of 103 participants responses were collected over a four-week period across two departments. Of them, 45% required a face-to-face appointment to solve a problem with their appliance; 45% of patients who had problems with their orthodontic appliance were able to resolve the issue through digital means either via telephone/email advice from their provider or from accessing help via the Internet; and 99% of patients wanted to continue with their orthodontic treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that a significantly higher percentage of patients are more concerned regarding attending face-to-face appointments after the first national lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Providers of orthodontic care should ensure they support their patients by providing digital support and adopt virtual means of managing emergency cases patients in the event of any further imposed national or local lockdowns. Furthermore, access and availability of emergency face-to-face orthodontic care is necessary for many patients in active orthodontic treatment.