Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Dec 18;24(1):1472.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06451-6.

The role of psychology and communication skills in orthodontic practice: a systematic review

Martin Baxmann  1 , Zoltán Baráth  2 , Krisztina Kárpáti  3
Affiliations

The role of psychology and communication skills in orthodontic practice: a systematic review

Martin Baxmann et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Effective communication and psychological strategies are integral to orthodontic practice, influencing patient satisfaction, adherence, and overall treatment outcomes. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024560432), examined the role of these strategies in orthodontic care and their integration into educational curricula. A comprehensive search identified studies focusing on communication and psychological interventions in orthodontics. The findings emphasize that patient-centered communication enhances understanding, adherence, and satisfaction. Structured approaches, such as personalized follow-up reminders and digital tools like social media, have shown significant improvements in patient engagement. Psychosocial factors, including anxiety and body image concerns, were identified as critical barriers to adherence, necessitating tailored psychological support and empathy-based communication. Additionally, gaps in orthodontic education were identified, with recommendations for integrating simulations, interprofessional education, and ongoing training into curricula to address these challenges. This review underscores the importance of addressing the psychological and communicative dimensions of orthodontic care, providing actionable recommendations for enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing educational practices. Future research should explore the long-term impact of these strategies and assess their effectiveness across diverse populations.

Keywords: Communication skills; Orthodontic education; Orthodontics; Patient-centered care; Psychology.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagramm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Stonehouse-Smith D, Pandis N, Bister D, Seehra J. Clinical communication in orthodontics. Any Questions? J Orthod. 2022;49(4):448–56. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ukra A, Bennani F, Farella M. Psychological aspects of orthodontics in clinical practice. Part one: treatment-specific variables. Prog Orthodont. 2011;12(2):143–8. - PubMed
    1. Large A. Managing patient expectations. Bdj Team. 2020;7(9):31.
    1. Büyükbayraktar ZÇ, Doruk C. Dental anxiety and fear levels, patient satisfaction, and quality of life in patients undergoing Orthodontic Treatment: is there a relationship? Turk J Orthod. 2021;34(4):234–41. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ho JCY, Chai HH, Lo ECM, Huang MZ, Chu CH. Strategies for effective dentist-patient communication: a Literature Review. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024;18:1385–94. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources