Abstract
Aim
This second survey of Australian Society of Orthodontists members was conducted to assess their treatment preferences and compare with the results of the 2013 survey.
Methods
Invitations to participate in an online survey were sent to a total of 481 members of the Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) and 142 replies were received (29.5% response).
Results
There is an average of one ASO member orthodontist per approximately 48,653 people in Australia. The average age of orthodontists is decreasing (median age = 49) but there is an increasing proportion of female orthodontists (25% up from 16%). Although practitioners preferred to wait and treat later for Class II cases, the Twin Block remained the most popular appliance for early intervention. TAD supported distalisers showed the biggest increase in popularity of Class II correction appliances although TAD use in general had declined slightly. The median extraction rate decreased from 23% in 2013 to 20% in this survey. Clear aligners were being used in a median 10% of cases (range 0% – 97%) with 18% of respondents producing in-house fabricated aligners. The most common clinical research question ASO members would like examined related to clear aligners.
Conclusion
Orthodontics in Australia has evolved since 2013 with an increase in the use of clear aligners and associated technology.