Percepção dos graduandos da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia sobre a Ortodontia

Abstract

Introduction: It is known that most individuals seeking orthodontic treatment do so for aesthetic reasons, however, fixed orthodontic appliances apparently change the self-perception of the subjects and may negatively affect their perception of beauty, impair self-esteem and their social relations. Methodology: research conducted through questionnaires, with students from a public university. The questionnaires contained questions addressing epidemiological data such as age, sex, and whether or not they used orthodontic appliances. Also asked about "Which orthodontic appliance do you consider to be of the best aesthetics?", "Do you consider the orthodontic appliances unsightly?" and whether "Can the use of orthodontic appliances influence the beginning of an affective/romantic relationship?". Results:Twenty-five volunteer answered the questionnaire, of which 173 (76.89%) had orthodontic treatment, 170 (75.56%) considered the appliances made of ceramic materials (transparent/white) as the best aesthetics, 160 (71.11%) considered that they are indifferent about the aesthetics of orthodontic appliances, 170 (75.56%) believe that the use of orthodontic appliance by the partner to initiate an affective/love relationship is indifferent, although 45 (20.00%) answered that the use of orthodontic appliances may impair the onset of an affective relationship. Conclusions: Witch results it is possible to conclude that the majority of students have already done or are doing orthodontic treatment. They are indifferent about the aesthetics of orthodontic appliances, that is, they considered them neither aesthetic nor unsightly. The apparatus made of aesthetic materials was considered more aesthetically acceptable and consider that it is indifferent whether the person uses orthodontic appliance to start an affective/loving relationship.