Perception about Clear Aligner Therapy among Patients Seeking Orthodontic Treatment in Public Tertiary Care Dental Hospital-Cross-Sectional Survey

Aim: Aim of the study is to assess perception about clear aligner therapy among patients seeking orthodontic treatment in public tertiary care dental hospital.  Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire that had been framed and tested for reliability and validity. It was used to collect information on the socio-demographic profile and the perspectives of orthodontic patients regarding Clear Aligner Therapy. Participants had been informed about the study, and only those who had consented were administered the questionnaire. The structured questionnaire consisted of 23 closed-ended questions, and the data was collected using Google Forms.  Results: Data from 294 patients were assessed, comprising 159 females (54.1%) and 134 males (45.6%), all between the ages of 15 and 45. Of these, 92% were aware of Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT). 31.3% patients perceived CAT to be less effective than fixed appliance (FA) therapy, with only 19.3% being aware of the cost of CAT. Additionally, 30.4% believed that CAT would result in a longer treatment duration compared to fixed appliances. However, 59.6% preferred CAT over fixed appliances for aesthetic reasons, and 78.6% favored CAT for better oral hygiene maintenance.  Conclusion: As Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT) represents one of the latest advancements in orthodontics, there is a pressing need to increase education and awareness among the general population to improve their understanding of this treatment option.