Patients' perspectives of the long-term impact of orthodontic treatment: a qualitative study.

Objectives: To explore how orthodontic treatment affects different aspects of life, such as self-esteem, well-being, and social interactions and, additionally, to identify the long-term challenges that orthodontic patients experience after treatment.

Materials and methods: This qualitative study involved in-depth semistructured face-to-face interviews. A purposive sampling strategy aimed to recruit a representative cohort of orthodontic patients who had their orthodontic treatment in adolescence and had their treatment concluded at least 5 years previously. Twenty-one patients (13 females and 8 males) were interviewed using a prepiloted topic guide. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed verbatim, using the general inductive method of data analysis.

Results: The thematic analysis revealed four key themes and related subthemes: (1) self-confidence and interpersonal communication, (2) social and professional opportunities, (3) oral health and function, and (4) challenges. In-depth analysis revealed positive treatment outcomes regarding enhanced self-confidence, social interactions, and perceived improvement in oral health and function. It also highlighted ongoing challenges with retainers and dissatisfaction with relapse.

Conclusions: Orthodontic treatment can significantly impact patient lives. Orthodontic patients described direct long-term positive effects on their social lives and well-being. However, it is equally important to remain mindful of the long-term challenges that may arise after treatment, especially with retainer choices and relapse, enabling proactive measures to mitigate their impact.