Motivation for and satisfaction with orthodontic-surgical treatment: a retrospective study of 28 patients

Motivation for starting treatment and satisfaction with treatment results w ere evaluated on the basis of replies to a 14-item questionnaire and clinic al examination of 28 orthognathic patients from 6 months to 2 years after t reatment. The most common reasons for Seeking professional help were problems in biti ng and chewing (68 per cent). Another major reason was dissatisfaction with facial appearance (36 per cent). Many patients also complained of temporom andibular joint symptoms (32 per cent) and headache (32 per cent). Women (8 /19) were more often dissatisfied with their facial appearance than men (2/ 9), but the difference was not statistically significant. In agreement with earlier studies, the results of orthognathic treatment fu lfilled the expectations of almost every patient. Nearly 100 per cent of th e patients (27/28) were satisfied with treatment results, although 40 per c ent experienced some degree of numbness in the lips and/or jaw 1 year post- operatively, The most satisfied patients were those who stated temporomandi bular disorders as the main reason for seeking treatment and whose PAR-inde x had improved greatly. The majority of the patients experienced the orthodontic treatment as painf ul and as the most unpleasant part of the whole treatment, but all the pati ents were satisfied with the pre-treatment information they were given on o rthodontics. Orthodontic-surgical therapy should be of a high professional standard tech nically, but the psychological aspects are equally important in the treatme nt protocol. The professionals should make efforts to understand the patien t's motivations for and expectations of treatment. Patients should be well prepared for surgery and supported for a long time after to help them to ad just to post-surgical changes.