Impact of COVID-۱۹ Pandemic on Treatment with Conventional Fixed Orthodontic Appliances Versus Clear Aligners in Saudi Arabia: A Multi-Center Cross-sectional Study

Background: This study aimed to compare the treatment progress and complications between patients receiving conventional orthodontic treatment and clear aligners during the coronavirus disease-۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic.Methods: An electronic survey was distributed randomly among orthodontic patients in Saudi Arabia to understand how the global health crisis caused by COVID-۱۹ affected orthodontic patients. The survey questions were structured into four sections, including demographic data, continuation of orthodontic follow-up appointments during the COVID-۱۹, reasons for missed appointments, and problems of orthodontic patients. Data analysis consisted of simple descriptive statistics presented in frequency tables and percentages. Statistical significance was set at P≤۰.۰۵.Results: A total of ۵۱۲ electronic responses were received. Sixty-two (۱۲.۱۱%) participants missed no orthodontic follow-up appointment during the COVID-۱۹ lockdown. Hence, the study included ۴۵۰ (۸۷.۸۹%) participants to evaluate the impact of COVID-۱۹ pandemic on sustained orthodontic treatment. The proportion of patients in the fixed appliance group (۳۵.۲%, ۸۶ patients) who responded that “they had not even once tried to communicate with their orthodontists” was significantly higher than that in the clear aligner group (۹.۲%, ۱۹ patients) (P<۰.۰۰۱). The proportion of participants who received fixed appliances (۶۲.۳%, ۱۵۲ patients) and disagreed with the lockdown of orthodontic clinics during the COVID-۱۹ was significantly higher than that in clear aligner users (۱۹.۴%, ۴۰ patients) (P<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: The results indicated that most issues were reported by patients who had fixed appliances. Thus, tele-orthodontics could provide a solution to continue dental practice during the COVID-۱۹, and clear aligners are preferable to traditional orthodontic treatment methods.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، Orthodontic Appliances ، Fixed ، removable