Patient Perceptions, Preferences and Patient-Reported Outcomes Associated with Accelerated Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Accelerated orthodontic procedures have been introduced to reduce orthodontic treatment duration. However, their clinical acceptability also depends on patient perceptions, preferences, discomfort, and willingness to undergo or pay for additional procedures.

Objective: To systematically evaluate patient-reported perceptions, preferences, willingness, pain and discomfort, and related outcomes associated with accelerated orthodontic procedures.

Methods: Patients of any age or gender receiving active orthodontic treatment with fixed labial or lingual appliances were eligible. Non-invasive acceleration procedures, including photobiomodulation, cyclic vibration force appliances, low-intensity laser therapy, and low-intensity light therapy, were considered. Both randomized and non-randomized studies were eligible. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were selected as information sources. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for non-randomized studies and RoB 2 for randomized controlled trials.

Eleven studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The included evidence comprised cross-sectional surveys, prospective and retrospective studies, and randomized controlled trials. Study populations included orthodontic patients, adults, adolescents, parents, and orthodontists. The studies evaluated perceptions and willingness toward accelerated orthodontic treatment as well as patient-reported symptoms associated with specific acceleration procedures.

Conclusion: Patient-reported outcomes are important when evaluating accelerated orthodontic procedures. The available evidence is heterogeneous and has methodological limitations. Standardized patient-reported outcome measures and well-designed clinical studies are needed.