Perception of Need for Further Refinement in a Clear Aligner Treatment among Orthodontists, Dentists and Laypeople: A Retrospective Study

Clear aligner treatment often requires further refinement to improve the orthodontic treatment outcome. However, the perceptions of treatment outcomes evaluated by orthodontists and dentists are sparse, and laypeople’s perceptions have yet to be explored. Here, we explore the perceptions of orthodontists, dentists, and laypeople concerning the treatment outcomes achieved after completing the first sequence of aligners. This cross-sectional study involved 37 orthodontists, 67 dentists, and 93 laypeople. We administered an online questionnaire containing intra-oral photographs of nine completed cases with pre- and post-first sequences of aligners. As a control, we used a digital prediction system for the treatment outcome. Self-perception was reported using a visual analog scale. Both orthodontists and dentists had similar perceptions about treatment outcomes (p = 0.363) but significantly differed from laypeople (p ≤ 0.0001). Both orthodontists and dentists recommended further treatment; orthodontists were more critical than dentists (p ≤ 0.001). Orthodontists were more critical than dentists in their evaluations of the need for further treatments; however, their perceptions of treatment outcomes were similar. Laypeople were more satisfied with the treatment outcomes, were less concerned with occlusion, and were more focused on the aesthetic results of the treatment.