Cost, appearances affect dental treatment success —Expert

An expert in orthodontist, Professor Ama Johal has said that the cost of treatment and appearance are important psychosocial factors that doctors must consider to ensure that orthodontist treatment like wearing of braces in correcting scattered teeth is successful.

Professor Johal, who spoke at the 12th Scientific Conference and annual general meeting of the Nigerian Association of Orthodontists (NAO), said studies have shown that measuring patient’s centre outcomes ensure that people take up orthodontic care.

Johal, a consultant orthodontist at the Bart’s and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, stated that there was increased recognition of the importance of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors in medical and health treatment outcomes.

According to him, “What we have realised is that for this treatment to work, it is a partnership between the child or adult and the orthodontist. And the orthodontist needs to be aware of some other factors that will influence the child’s decision to have treatment and what they want from treatment.

“A lot of children, we realize, approach treatment not knowing what it involves,. That in itself creates some stress and anxiety. They are worried that the treatment is going to have, maybe a negative effect on their family, friend or social life. Also, they feel that the brace treatment is going to hurt and affect their eating.

“These are factors that lead patients to be very anxious. We know that in this difficult time for children, what supports them the most is the parents, and research today has shown that the person who is most important, most influencing and encouraging is the mother.

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“What is new is that we are not only able to show that we actually improve the appearance of these children, more importantly how they feel about themselves. The feel-good factor is enhanced and if you make a happy child, you make for a happy adult.”

President, NAO, Dr Babatunde Ogunbanjo stated the awareness of dental care in Nigeria still fall short and so many Nigerians don’t consider dental care as important.

He stated that it will only improve with the implementation of the Federal government’s oral health care policy, adding, “then, awareness will be on the increase and there will be more public dental health programme to permeate down.”

Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, speaking through Dr Victor Akinmoladun, stated that orthodontic practice in Nigeria has come of age and should move on to evidence-based orthodontic practice.