PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the investigation was to survey clear aligner therapy (CAT) use among general dentists in Australia. A secondary aim was to evaluate the factors that influenced general dentists in Australia not to provide CAT.
METHODS: General dentists registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency were invited to participate in a structured cross-sectional electronic survey. The survey covered demographics, preferred CAT systems and practices, relevant treatment planning and retention protocols, patient-reported CAT issues, pertinent respondent opinions, and reasons for not providing CAT. Descriptive statistics were computed via GraphPad Prism v10 (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA).
RESULTS: Most of the 264 (n = 172; 65.2%) respondents indicated that they provided CAT. The majority (n = 82; 58.6%) reported that they treated between 1 and 20 patients with CAT annually. Invisalign was the most used system (n = 83; 61.2%), with 55 (41.7%), indicating that they used more than one system. Most (n = 124; 98.4%) were comfortable using CAT for mild crowding, whereas 73.4% (n = 94) were not comfortable in treating severe crowding with CAT. The median (IQR) number of patients per respondent treated with extraction of a permanent incisor or premolar was 0 (0). Issues regarding tooth positions were reportedly always or mostly in need of change in the initial treatment plan by 68.7%. Problems regarding patient compliance with CAT wear protocols (n = 67; 45.6%) and the predictability of treatment outcomes (n = 31; 21.1%) were the most identified themes of the free-text comments. Over 80% of those who did not provide CAT indicated that they preferred to refer to an orthodontist for management.
CONCLUSIONS: Almost two-thirds of the respondents provided CAT. Invisalign was the most used system. The majority use CAT combined with nonextraction treatment. Most of those who did not provide CAT preferred to refer to an orthodontist for patient management.
METHODS: General dentists registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency were invited to participate in a structured cross-sectional electronic survey. The survey covered demographics, preferred CAT systems and practices, relevant treatment planning and retention protocols, patient-reported CAT issues, pertinent respondent opinions, and reasons for not providing CAT. Descriptive statistics were computed via GraphPad Prism v10 (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA).
RESULTS: Most of the 264 (n = 172; 65.2%) respondents indicated that they provided CAT. The majority (n = 82; 58.6%) reported that they treated between 1 and 20 patients with CAT annually. Invisalign was the most used system (n = 83; 61.2%), with 55 (41.7%), indicating that they used more than one system. Most (n = 124; 98.4%) were comfortable using CAT for mild crowding, whereas 73.4% (n = 94) were not comfortable in treating severe crowding with CAT. The median (IQR) number of patients per respondent treated with extraction of a permanent incisor or premolar was 0 (0). Issues regarding tooth positions were reportedly always or mostly in need of change in the initial treatment plan by 68.7%. Problems regarding patient compliance with CAT wear protocols (n = 67; 45.6%) and the predictability of treatment outcomes (n = 31; 21.1%) were the most identified themes of the free-text comments. Over 80% of those who did not provide CAT indicated that they preferred to refer to an orthodontist for management.
CONCLUSIONS: Almost two-thirds of the respondents provided CAT. Invisalign was the most used system. The majority use CAT combined with nonextraction treatment. Most of those who did not provide CAT preferred to refer to an orthodontist for patient management.
摘要：
目的：调查的主要目的是调查澳大利亚普通牙医中明确的对准剂疗法（CAT）的使用情况。次要目的是评估影响澳大利亚普通牙医不提供CAT的因素。
方法：邀请在澳大利亚健康从业者监管机构注册的普通牙医参加结构化的横断面电子调查。调查涵盖了人口统计，首选CAT系统和实践，相关的治疗计划和保留协议，患者报告的CAT问题，相关的回应意见，以及不提供CAT的原因。描述性统计是通过GraphPadPrismv10计算的(GraphPadSoftwareInc.，拉荷亚,CA,美国）。
结果：264名受访者中的大多数（n=172；65.2％）表示他们提供了CAT。大多数（n=82;58.6％）报告说，他们每年治疗1至20名CAT患者。Invisalign是最常用的系统(n=83；61.2%)，55（41.7%），表明他们使用了多个系统。大多数(n=124；98.4%)对使用CAT进行轻度拥挤感到舒适，而73.4％（n=94）对CAT治疗严重拥挤不满意。每位接受恒切牙或前磨牙拔除治疗的患者的中位数（IQR）为0（0）。据报道，有关牙齿位置的问题总是或大部分需要在初始治疗计划中更改68.7％。关于患者对CAT佩戴方案的依从性（n=67；45.6％）和治疗结果的可预测性（n=31；21.1％）的问题是自由文本评论中最明确的主题。超过80％的未提供CAT的人表示，他们更愿意转诊给正畸医生进行管理。
结论：几乎三分之二的受访者提供了CAT。Invisalign是最常用的系统。大多数使用CAT结合非萃取处理。大多数未提供CAT的人更愿意转诊给正畸医生进行患者管理。
方法：邀请在澳大利亚健康从业者监管机构注册的普通牙医参加结构化的横断面电子调查。调查涵盖了人口统计，首选CAT系统和实践，相关的治疗计划和保留协议，患者报告的CAT问题，相关的回应意见，以及不提供CAT的原因。描述性统计是通过GraphPadPrismv10计算的(GraphPadSoftwareInc.，拉荷亚,CA,美国）。
结果：264名受访者中的大多数（n=172；65.2％）表示他们提供了CAT。大多数（n=82;58.6％）报告说，他们每年治疗1至20名CAT患者。Invisalign是最常用的系统(n=83；61.2%)，55（41.7%），表明他们使用了多个系统。大多数(n=124；98.4%)对使用CAT进行轻度拥挤感到舒适，而73.4％（n=94）对CAT治疗严重拥挤不满意。每位接受恒切牙或前磨牙拔除治疗的患者的中位数（IQR）为0（0）。据报道，有关牙齿位置的问题总是或大部分需要在初始治疗计划中更改68.7％。关于患者对CAT佩戴方案的依从性（n=67；45.6％）和治疗结果的可预测性（n=31；21.1％）的问题是自由文本评论中最明确的主题。超过80％的未提供CAT的人表示，他们更愿意转诊给正畸医生进行管理。
结论：几乎三分之二的受访者提供了CAT。Invisalign是最常用的系统。大多数使用CAT结合非萃取处理。大多数未提供CAT的人更愿意转诊给正畸医生进行患者管理。
