ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT ATTITUDE AND COOPERATION: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PATIENTS’ AND PARENTS’ RESPONSES IN CHINESE POPULATION.

Introduction:- The final outcome of an orthodontic treatment depends on the patients’ compliance in following orthodontist’s instructions. Objectives:- To explore the association between orthodontic patients’ and their parents’ response on orthodontic treatment attitude with the patients’ response regarding treatment cooperation. Second, to investigate the change in treatment attitude and cooperation response when they have undergone 6 months of active treatment. Methods:- Data were collected from 79 orthodontic patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment (36.7% boys and 63.3% girls), and their parents. Responses were collected once during appointment of Diagnosis and Treatment Plan and finally after 6 months of active treatment. Results:- Patients’ level of treatment attitude was significantly correlated with their level of treatment cooperation. After 6 months of treatment the patients’ reported greater levels of treatment attitude as compared to when they were at the beginning of treatment. Pretreatment parents’ attitude responses were not significantly correlated with the children’s actual cooperation responses. Conclusion:- Patients’ attitude was found to influence their cooperative behavior, so orthodontists’ efforts to generate positive attitude towards the treatment, especially in patients,would guide the clinician to carry out an efficient treatment in optimal time.