20-Year Change in the Perception of Orthodontic Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To compare the changes in the perception towards orthodontics between the first and second decades over the 20-year period based on a collaborative hypertext dictionary site. Methods: The orthodontics-related entries were searched on the EksiSozluk website (http://www.eksisozluk.com). The keyword was determined as "dis teli" ("brace") and a total of 1,028 entries that were contributed between 2001 and 2021 were analyzed. Entries were divided into five general categories based on their content: definition, asking for advice, humor, advertising, and transfer of experience. The transfer of experience category was further divided into four subcategories: procedure, motivation, advice, and complaint. For each entry, the attitude of the contributor was also noted. Entries were compared between the two decades with regard to content and attitude towards orthodontics. Results: The average number of entries contributed per year was 13.40 +/- 10.58 in the first decade and was 89.40 +/- 44.67 in the second decade, the increase was statistically significant (P <.05). A significant difference was observed between the two decades in terms of content (P <.05). There was a proportional decrease in the definition and an increase in the transfer of experience. Moreover, the rate of entries containing a complaint decreased and motivation increased in the second decade (P <.05). On the other hand, there was also a significant change between the two decades with regard to the distribution of attitudes, whereby the rate of positive entries increased in the second decade (P <.05). Conclusion: The contributors' attitudes towards orthodontics shifted from negative in the first decade to positive in the second decade.