Socio-demographic Profile of Orthodontic Patients and Their Retrospective Reflections on Orthodontic Treatment Received during COVID-19 Pandemic from A Tertiary Care Public Dental Hospital in Sri Lanka

Objectives: This study explored the socio-demographic profile of orthodontic patients and their retrospective reflections on orthodontic treatment services that they received during COVID-19 pandemic from a tertiary care public dental hospital in Sri Lanka. The relationships between age, gender and educational attainment of orthodontic patients and their retrospective reflections on perceived safety of receiving orthodontic treatment during COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty in obtaining expected orthodontic treatment outcomes due to postponement of appointments were also assessed. Materials and Methods: Patients who were aged 18-44-years and attended orthodontic treatment during the pandemic with ongoing treatment at the time of data collection participated in this study. The sample comprised 400 orthodontic patients and data was collected using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire complimented by clinical records and patients’ registers. Results: Females (70.3%) and young adults (78.2%) dominated the sample and 51.7% accessed orthodontic treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients reflected their agreement with infection control protocols implemented, such as pre-screening (78.3%) and restricted treatment provision (75.6%). Moreover, patients echoed perceived safety in receiving routine orthodontic treatment during the pandemic with the mean score (95% CI) of 59.68 (56.67-62.68) which was significantly associated with their educational attainment. More educated patients perceived safety better than their less educated counterpart (p=0.0001). However, such associations were not evident pertaining to perceived uncertainties in accomplishing orthodontic treatment outcomes due to postponement of routine orthodontic treatment as experienced by 70.8% of respondents. Making arrangements for online appointments was suggested by orthodontic patients to improve services during pandemics. Conclusion: Orthodontic patients reflected their agreement with infection control protocols that were implemented during the pandemic, but articulated uncertainties in achieving expected treatment outcomes due to postponement of appointments. Regardless of the limitations, the findings of this study could help in streamlining publicly funded orthodontic treatment services amidst resource constraints, during and after future pandemics.