Socioeconomic burden of orthodontic treatment: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between Socio-Economic Status (SES) and the factors that may play a role in orthodontic treatment demand and uptake have not been explored. Such information is needed for better planning of orthodontic services and to ensure that health care is provided equally among all social classes. The objective of this systematic review was to find out whether socioeconomic status affects the treatment needs of orthodontic patients. METHODS: Literature search was done using Medical Subject Heading terms (MeSH) in PubMed, LIVIVO, Google Scholar, and EbscoHost from 1 January 1965 to 1 August 2021. All cross-sectional studies were included. Both male and female participants were included in the review. The quality of assessment for the included studies was evaluated independently by two reviewers using “The Jonna Briggs Institute” tool (JBI) for cross-section studies. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was modified and used for assessing the risk of bias and risk of summary. RESULTS: A total of 704 articles were found. The relevant database searches were PubMed 259 articles, followed by EbscoHost 280, LIVIVO 145, and Google Scholar 20 articles. A final of 10 cross-sectional studies were included in the review. CONCLUSION: The reviewers found evidence that parents ultimately decide whether the child will undergo treatment, possibly depending on their financial situation.