Gender and Age Differences in Patients' Satisfaction with Dental Care in the Slovak Republic: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Objective: To analyze the level of quality of healthcare satisfaction/dissatisfaction according to gender and age in terms of time spent with the doctor, communication, general satisfaction, interpersonal and financial aspects, technical quality and access/availability/convenience. Material and Methods: The standardized "Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire" (n=445) was collected in dental clinics in the Slovak Republic in the period of 2014-2015. The study sample was divided into subgroups according to gender (males: n=236; females: n=209) and age (<35 years: n= 243; ≥36 years: n=202). A scale from 1 (maximum dissatisfaction with quality of healthcare) to 5 (maximum satisfaction with quality of healthcare) was evaluated. Results: The highest significant satisfaction level of quality of healthcare (expressed as a mean score) were found in females in the subscale time spent with doctor (<35 y.) (2.90±0.69; p<0.042); the lowest satisfaction level was found in females (<35 y.) in the subscale general satisfaction (2.53±0.36; p=n.s.). Females (≥36y.) were significantly more satisfied with health care quality in the subscale communication than males (2.72±0.34 and 2.62±0.3, respectively; p=0.046). Males (<35 y.) were significantly less satisfied in the subscale technical quality compared to females (2.54±0.27 and 2.65±0.26, respectively; p=0.002). Conclusion: For the future, it is necessary to specify the next reasons for patients' satisfaction/dissatisfaction with dental care.

Impact of Orthodontic Treatment on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in the Slovak Republic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To determine the level of Oral Health-related Quality of Life satisfaction in orthodontic patients compared with the control group. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the standardized questionnaire "Oral Health-related Quality of Life" (OHRQoL) was used. The 37 statements in the questionnaire are divided into four subscales; the total satisfaction score has been evaluated as well. 146 orthodontic patients (42.5% men) aged 8-72 years were divided into four subgroups: (i) patients treated by dental crowns and implants (DCI), (ii) subjects with dental prosthesis (DP), (iii) patients treated by dental braces (DB), and (iv) patients treated by dental retainer (DR). The control group consisted of 49 dental patients without any orthodontic treatment (51.0% men in mean age 20.0±8.2 years). Mean scores and levels of satisfaction (%) were evaluated in all subgroups and in all subscales. Results: The lowest rate of patients OHRQoL satisfaction was observed in the DP subgroup; the highest satisfaction level was found in the DCI subgroup. The highest rate of patient OHRQoL satisfaction in the study group was observed in subscales social well-being and functional limitation, and the highest level of dissatisfaction in a subscale emotional well-being. High significant differences between study and control groups were found in terms of a higher satisfaction level in a control group. Conclusion: The most dissatisfied were the oldest patients with dental prosthesis with the highest level of dissatisfaction in the emotional well-being subscale.

The Analysis of Selected Malocclusion Risk Factors: A Pilot Study

Objective: To analyse selected malocclusion risk factors, their exposure time and overall malocclusion risk scores. Material and Methods: The self-prepared questionnaires were collected at dental practitioners' waiting rooms from 6/2014 to 12/2015. The study group consisted of patients treated by dental braces (n=82; 15.5±4.4 years) and the control group consisted of other patients not treated by dental braces (n=45; 17.6±4.7 years). Data were processed by the statistical program SPSS using descriptive statistics. To verify the hypothesis wad used two sample t-test to compare the average exposure scores and the exposure time between the two groups. To determine associations between categorical variables was used Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: Our results confirmed longer exposure times in all studied malocclusion risk factors, in the case of pacifier sucking the difference was significant (p=0.001). The longest exposure time was found in mouth breathing in the study group (12.2±6.5 years). The lip sucking/chewing cannot be confirmed as a malocclusion risk factor. The study group had higher level of an overall mean risk score (19.8±11.5) compared the control group (16.1±12.1), although not significant. It can be concluded that non-nutritive sucking habits and/or mouth breathing could have damaging effect to normal teeth development. Conclusion: Malocclusions could be preventable, thus we recommend setting up educational programs for dentists and paediatricians as well as for parents focusing on the improvement of oral health knowledge.