Patient Satisfaction Measuring Instrument—A Scoping Review

One of the most important tasks in dental care is helping patients reach an acceptable level of satisfaction with their dentition. Patient satisfaction after orthodontic treatment is poorly covered in the literature. Previous studies found that factors such as gender, age, type of malocclusion, and dentofacial improvement may influence satisfaction. A scoping literature review was conducted to identify the optimal instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment. Using the keyword “patient satisfaction,” we found 68 articles. After exclusion, 12 articles were reviewed. Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria; however, 5 articles were excluded. Studies in Brazil and Jordan used the Dental Impact on Daily Living index to assess the level of satisfaction. The Academic Centre of Dentistry in the Netherlands reported on the development of a questionnaire and its application to evaluating patient satisfaction among patients treated from 2000 to 2009. Some studies used the IOTN or Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index to assess the degree of dental improvement after treatment. Studies of patient satisfaction after orthodontic treatment report a wide range of satisfaction from 34% to 75%. The reason for this wide range is the difficulty in finding a relevant instrument that accurately reflects patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment.