Social anxiety: What role do orthodontists and pediatric dentists play in this nation-wide epidemic?

Author

Kurtis HauckFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/WE5A-NW56

Defense Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Dentistry

Department

Dentistry

First Advisor

Bhavna Shroff

Second Advisor

Steven Lindauer

Third Advisor

Caroline Carrico

Fourth Advisor

Tiffany Williams

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore orthodontists’, pediatric dentists’, and general dentists’ knowledge of social anxiety disorder (SAD), its presentation, prevalence, and the perceived role of dental professionals in this nationwide epidemic.

Methods: An original survey was distributed to orthodontists and pediatric dentists across the country using the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) for mailing information. Questionnaires were distributed either physically or digitally, with proportional representation from each state. Differences between the AAPD and AAO respondents were assessed with chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests. Agreement in the responses was assessed with McNemar’s chi-squared test. Differences in agreement ratings were compared between groups with nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: The survey was distributed to 2000 orthodontists and 8126 members of the AAPD with an overall response rate of: 4.4% (5.9% for orthodontists, 4% for AAPD members). Forty-one percent of the AAPD respondents reported that they perceive greater than 10% of their youth patients have SAD compared to twenty-eight percent of the AAO respondents (P = 0.0045). Similarly, Sixty-one percent of the AAPD respondents reported they perceive that greater than 10% of the U.S. youth have SAD compared to forty-four percent of the AAO respondents (P = 0.0174). Respondents were significantly more likely to perceive that the US prevalence of SAD was higher than the prevalence rates in their own practice. Pediatric dental providers felt more comfortable recognizing the signs and symptoms of SAD than orthodontists (P = 0.0001). Pediatric dental providers reported that when they do recognize signs of SAD in their patients, they have a better understanding of what to do next than orthodontists do (P = 0.0002).

Conclusions: Comparison of the responses regarding the US prevalence and the practitioner’s own practice, revealed that the respondents were significantly more likely to purport that the US prevalence was higher than their own practice. Pediatric dental providers indicated a greater level of comfort than orthodontists about recognition of SAD as well as the next steps to take after recognition. Both groups valued the importance for the dental profession to recognize the signs of SAD.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-2-2025