Objectives\u00a0 <\/b>The continuous evolution of the mobile technology changed and is still changing our profession and daily life. The smartphones and tablets, such as other portable de\u00advices in common use, allow the orthodontists to enter and man\u00adage diagnostic records easily ev\u00aderywhere and, if it is necessary, to interact with their orthodontic pa\u00adtients at any time thanks to appli\u00adcations developed ad hoc.<\/p>\n
The so-called apps (or extensively called applications) are in effect software, more or less elaborate, able to significantly extend the performances of the mobile devic\u00ades customizing contents and pur\u00adpose of usage. Patients in turn can take advantage of orthodontic apps dedicated to them to be\u00adcome more interested in the cur\u00adrent orthodontic therapies in which they are involved, to im\u00adprove their compliance and, indi\u00adrectly, the therapeutic results.<\/p>\n
Materials and methods\u00a0 <\/b>We reviewed the orthodontic apps available on the virtual libraries and online stores of the main mo\u00adbile operating systems. We subse\u00adquently independently tested on four different of our mobile devic\u00ades the apps for patients and for patient\/orthodontist interaction that met our inclusion criteria.<\/p>\n
After our evaluation, we invited 50 of our orthodontic patients (aged 15-32 years old, distributed in a proportion of 28 F and 22 M) to test on their personal mobile de\u00advices the apps of their choice among those we suggested in a list and later give a score based on the following aspects: general liking, easiness of use on their de\u00advices and based on their opinion about the usefulness of the app considered.<\/p>\n
Results\u00a0 <\/b>From the initial research, the 34.85% of the apps found useful for this study are intended for the specialists in orthodontics. Only the 4.56% are intended for the ortho\u00addontic patients (specifically these apps are reminders for rubber bands insertion, to wear the clear aligners, to use the removable ap\u00adpliances, presentation of products, management of emergencies) and the 3.73% are intended for the pa\u00adtient\/orthodontist interaction (edu\u00adcational purpose, direct communi\u00adcation, tracking therapy progress\u00ades, emergencies management).<\/p>\n
Our patients prefer apps with simple and less elaborate inter\u00adfaces, especially those that have the function of reminders and those that allow to follow and constantly monitor the progress of the therapies.<\/p>\n
Conclusions\u00a0 <\/b>Orthodontic apps are modern and catchy tools, potentially very use\u00adful, supporting orthodontists during their patients\u2019 therapy time and routinely orthodontic practice. Even orthodontic patients without age and gender distinctions ap\u00adpreciate the opportunity to benefit from additional tools that make their therapy easier and in some ways fun. Taking into account the differences between the possible different orthodontic treatments and the individual characteristics of each orthodontic patient, the use of orthodontic apps should be better known and encouraged among the specialists in ortho\u00addontics and, for their part, in the patients themselves.<\/p>\n
Clinical significance\u00a0 <\/b>The usage of simple virtual free tools such as the orthodontic apps allowing a direct interaction im\u00adprove the communication with the patient and boosts his collabora\u00adtion during the orthodontic treat\u00adment. Both in clinical practice and in emergency situations where it may not be possible to check the orthodontic patient in a short time, resorting to appropriate apps with which interact with the patient can be an added value of the modern professional orthodontist.<\/p>\n
Per continuare la lettura gli abbonati possono scaricare l’allegato.<\/i><\/p>\n
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