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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how orthodontists utilize the social media application Instagram for health communication. Methods: Four Turkish keywords were manually searched on the Instagram platform on February 12, 2022: “orthodontist” (ortodontist), “orthodontics” (ortodonti), “orthodontic specialist” (ortodonti uzmanı), and “doctor of orthodontist” (ortodonti doktoru). A total of 195 orthodontist accounts matching the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups: public and private. Profile information analyses were performed, and the results for public and private accounts were compared. Public accounts were further divided by gender and whether they shared a company name in their profiles. Groups were compared according to post content and type of patient photo. Statistical analysis involved the Shapiro-Wilk test, an Independent Samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square and Kappa tests. Results: The number of posts (96.06±149.30 vs. 195.36±248.51) and followers (1,250.56±2,347.47 vs. 4,071.43±6,557.63) were higher for public accounts. The number of followers (3,171.62±4,645.08 vs. 5,472.57±8,595.99) and daily posts (0.17±0.37 vs. 0.23±0.43) were higher for accounts with a company name. In the content analysis, posts on clear aligners (1.51±4.74 vs. 6.60±18.60, p

Objective: To determine the changes in orthodontists’ interest in various orthodontic appliances during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A questionnaire probing respondents’ interest in orthodontic appliances and techniques, including standard buccal metal brackets, self-ligating brackets, standard ceramic brackets, lingual brackets, clear aligners, orthodontic facemasks, removable functional appliances, fixed functional appliances, orthognathic surgery, orthodontic miniscrews, and lingual retainers, was prepared using Google Forms and then sent to the Turkish Orthodontic Society to invite all members of the society to participate in the survey. Of the 1903 members invited, 230 (response rate, 12.08%) orthodontists completed the questionnaire. Results: The respondents’ interest in brackets did not change among 70% of the respondents (standard buccal metal bracket 80%, self-ligating bracket 72.2%, standard ceramic bracket 77%, and lingual bracket 76.5%). A significant difference was observed between the genders only about the interest in standard metal brackets and fixed functional appliances (p

Objective:To compare the short-term effects of the conventional twin-block (TB) appliance and the cervical headgear TB (CHG-TB) appliance on craniofacial structures.Methods:The retrospective controlled study examined lateral cephalograms taken from 46 growing subjects. Individuals were divided into two groups according to the treatment. Group I consisted of 15 individuals (9 girls, 6 boys, mean age: 12.34±1.23 years) treated with the TB appliance and Group II consisted of 16 individuals (9 girls, 7 boys) treated with the CHG-TB appliance (mean age: 12.50±1.30 years). To distinguish the treatment effects of these appliances on growth, a control group of 15 untreated individuals (9 girls, 6 boys, mean age: 11.82±1.16 years) was included from the archives.Results:Significant improvements were found in the interdental and maxillo-mandibular measurements in the treatment groups (p

Objective:To compare the changes in the perception towards orthodontics between the first and second decades over the 20-year period based on a collaborative hypertext dictionary site.Methods:The orthodontics-related entries were searched on the EksiSozluk website (http://www.eksisozluk.com). The keyword was determined as “diş teli” (“brace”) and a total of 1,028 entries that were contributed between 2001 and 2021 were analyzed. Entries were divided into five general categories based on their content: definition, asking for advice, humor, advertising, and transfer of experience. The transfer of experience category was further divided into four subcategories: procedure, motivation, advice, and complaint. For each entry, the attitude of the contributor was also noted. Entries were compared between the two decades with regard to content and attitude towards orthodontics.Results:The average number of entries contributed per year was 13.40 ± 10.58 in the first decade and was 89.40 ± 44.67 in the second decade, the increase was statistically significant (P < .05). A significant difference was observed between the two decades in terms of content (P < .05). There was a proportional decrease in the definition and an increase in the transfer of experience. Moreover, the rate of entries containing a complaint decreased and motivation increased in the second decade (P < .05). On the other hand, there was also a significant change between the two decades with regard to the distribution of attitudes, whereby the rate of positive entries increased in the second decade (P < .05).Conclusion:The contributors’ attitudes towards orthodontics shifted from negative in the first decade to positive in the second decade.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiety levels of orthodontic patients during the 1-year period in the ongoing pandemic.Methods: The study included patients between the ages of 12 and 30 years and who were continuing their fixed orthodontic treatment at Adıyaman University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and filled out the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A total of 266 patients filled out the questionnaire at their first clinical visit between June 8 and July 8, 2020 (T0) and 176 of 190 patients (response rate: 92.63%) that were still under treatment filled out the questionnaire for a second time between June 15 and July 16, 2021 (T1).Results: In the total population, there was a significant decrease in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S score (P < .05), while there was no significant change in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-T score (P > .05). Anxiety scores were significantly higher in women and individuals aged over 18 years at T0 (P < .05), whereas only the anxiety scores of individuals aged over 18 years were significantly higher in T1 than in individuals aged below 18 years (P < .05). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S score showed a significant decrease at T1 compared to T0 for female patients (36.02 ± 11.32 vs. 38.82 ± 9.84) and patients aged under 18 years (34.26 ± 9.54 vs. 36.85 ± 9.26) (P < .05).Conclusion: The state anxiety levels of orthodontic patients decreased during the 1-year period of the pandemic, while there was no significant change in their trait anxiety levels.

Objective: To evaluate the views and anxiety levels of orthodontic patients during the first clinical appointment after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown.Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire that was administered to patients aged over 14 years who resumed their scheduled orthodontic treatment at Adıyaman University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics during the normalization period after the COVID-19 lockdown. Anxiety levels of the participants were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).Results: The study included 241 participants, comprising 177 (73.4%) women and 64 (26.5%) men with a mean age of 17.73 ± 3.27 years. Anxiety levels were significantly higher in women (State-trait index-State anxiety [STAI-S]: 39.26 ± 9.81, State-trait index-Trait anxiety [STAI-T]: 43.53 ± 9.16) than in men (STAI-S: 34.32 ± 10.12, STAI-T: 38.5 ± 7.87) (P < .01). No significant relationship was found between the presence of chronic diseases and anxiety levels (P > .05), while a positive correlation was found between age and trait anxiety (P = .041). Of all patients, 79.7% were positive about rescheduling their clinical appointment. Participants with higher anxiety levels indicated that they considered dental clinics as risky environments for the spread of COVID-19 infection (P < .01) and thus wanted to resume their treatment once the pandemic had ended (P < .05).Conclusion: The results indicate that patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment were anxious in the clinic.

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using plaque-disclosing tablets (PDTs) on the plaque and gingival index scores of patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliances.Methods:In group A (n=16), the subjects were motivated by conventional oral hygiene instructions, including verbal information about tooth brushing. The patients in group B (n=17) were motivated using PDTs used in the dentists’ office to show the locations of biofilms in addition to the instructions given to group A. Both the chairside demonstration performed in group B and the at-home use of disclosing tablets were undertaken by those in group C (n=15). The periodontal parameters were recorded before applying the fixed appliance (T0) and after the first (T1) and third (T2) months.Results:The plaque index (PI) scores of group C were significantly lower (p0.05) were found between groups A and B. The gingival status of group C did not change significantly (p>0.05) over the three months and was statistically lower when compared to groups A and B.Conclusion:The use of PDTs at home may enhance the plaque removal efficiency and gingival health stability, by facilitating self-examination.