Eating Attitudes in Orthodontic Patients

Comparison of the Effects of Different Orthodontic Treatment Techniques on Eating Attitudes

This study was conducted on 70 individuals who presented to the Orthodontics Department of the Faculty of Dentistry at Necmettin Erbakan University. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) was administered to all patients at the beginning of their treatment (T1) and at the sixth month of treatment (T2), and they were asked to complete it.

This study was conducted on 70 individuals who presented to the Orthodontics Department of the Faculty of Dentistry at Necmettin Erbakan University. Thirty-five patients were randomly selected to receive treatment with clear aligners, while the remaining 35 patients were treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) was administered at the beginning of treatment (T1) and at the sixth month of treatment (T2). Patients were asked to arrive at the clinic half an hour before their appointments to complete the questionnaire. The aim was to evaluate the effect of the type of orthodontic treatment on eating attitudes and behaviors.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age ≥18 years,
2. dental Class I, II, or III malocclusion without skeletal discrepancy,
3. absence of impacted or missing teeth,
4. no history of orthodontic treatment,
5. indication for non-extraction orthodontic treatment,
6. Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) score between 26 and 30,¹⁸
7. no systemic disease or related medication use

Exclusion Criteria:

1. cleft lip/palate,
2. severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders,
3. poor oral hygiene