Early Orthodontic Treatment Perceptions and Practice Trends Among Indian Orthodontists: A Questionnaire Based Descriptive Study
Mohamed Iqbal J, Shanti Swarup J, Balashanmugam B, Amna PV, Bargavi PanchatcharamIntroduction
Early orthodontic treatment remains an area of limited academic and clinical consensus, with persistent ambiguity regarding its definition, scope, and indications. Despite longstanding theoretical emphasis on early screening, there is limited information on how practicing orthodontists interpret and apply early treatment concepts in routine clinical practice. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and self-reported practice patterns of Indian orthodontists regarding early orthodontic treatment.
Materials and Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire survey was conducted among 75 practicing orthodontists selected from the Indian Orthodontic Society directory. A structured 10-item questionnaire, which underwent face and content validation and demonstrated acceptable test–retest reliability, was used to assess self-reported clinical practices and perceptions related to early orthodontic treatment. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics.
Results
Most respondents (94.7%) reported routinely educating parents regarding early orthodontic screening; however, only 18.7% reported initiating treatment before 9 years of age. Preventive and interceptive procedures were routinely practiced by 88% of respondents, although 54.7% reported that these procedures constituted only 10%-20% of their clinical workload. Perceptions of early orthodontic treatment varied, with 74% considering both preventive/interceptive procedures and growth modification as components of early treatment. Furthermore, 72.9% of respondents were unfamiliar with the Missing teeth–Overjet–Crossbite–Displacement of contacts–Overbite hierarchy within the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, and 79.2% were unable to identify the most recent international recommendations on early orthodontic treatment.
Conclusion
The findings demonstrate considerable heterogeneity in how early orthodontic treatment is conceptualized and applied in clinical practice. While awareness of early screening is widespread, approaches to early intervention vary substantially, reflecting ongoing ambiguity and lack of consensus within the specialty. These results are exploratory in nature and highlight the need for clearer conceptual frameworks and further research to better understand decision-making related to early orthodontic care.