How Did the Covid-19 Pandemic Effect the Anxiety Levels of Individuals Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment?

INTRODUCTION: In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the problems and anxiety levels of individuals who receive orthodontic treatment in a certain patient group during the pandemic period.
METHODS: For this research, a questionnaire with 20 questions about the treatment process in pandemic conditions was designed. The questionnaires were conducted on 560 individuals who started orthodontic treatment six months before the declaration of the pandemic and continued their treatment throughout the pandemic. While evaluating the study data, descriptive statistical methods were used. Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test was used to compare qualitative data.
RESULTS: In our research, it was observed that 16,4% of the individuals participating in our study could not go to their routine controls for 1 to 1,5 months, 6.1% of them for 1.5 to 2 months, 7% of them 2 to 2.5 months and 28.4% for 3 months or more. It was observed that 44.1% (n=247) of the individuals did not need to communicate with their doctor. In addition, it was observed that while 19.1% of individuals do not think that they have concerns about the prolongation of the treatment process due to the pandemic process; 15.2% of them rarely, 28% of them sometimes, 14.3% of them often, 23.4% of them always worry about this issue.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It has been determined that individuals who receive orthodontic treatment during the pandemic period often disrupt their routine controls, and individuals generally experience anxiety about the prolongation of the treatment process during the closure period.