Early Intervention within Orthodontics: The Sociological Aspects

Authors

Trenton Hammond, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Date of this Version

Spring 5-18-2024

Citation

Hammond, T. 2024. Early Intervention within Orthodontics: The Sociological Aspects. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comments

Copywrite Trenton Hammond 2024

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment is one of the final phases of dental treatment. Its use is to provide aesthetics in some cases, yet the quality-of-life aspect that it can provide is greatly underestimated. Orthodontic care can provide proper function of teeth, improve facial structure, avoid tooth decay/loss, and improve gum health (AAO, 2024). Within this research the overarching goal is to understand the sociological aspects of families looking to start orthodontic care, what the reasons behind starting or not starting are, and providing information to the public about orthodontics that may be misunderstood or might push people away from searching for orthodontic procedures. Under the umbrella of this research there will be different sub-topics within this paper that dive into sociological, biological, and anatomical aspects of oral health and how orthodontics can help in these areas. Orthodontic care is ever changing and is starting to become more self-regulated through new different practices such as Invisalign. Orthodontic care is much more than just aesthetics, it can improve the quality of dental health for life. Orthodontic care can also alleviate many other health issues. Making sure that there is a broader understanding of Orthodontics is the main goal of this research. Within this research, families were interviewed about their own experiences in a local orthodontic clinic. In addition, they answered questions about their current understandings of orthodontics. Participant identities were kept confidential. This information was used to compare to online research and provide accurate information to families in the future through pamphlets to be handed out at dental clinics in the future.

Key Words

Orthodontics, Early-intervention, Sociology