Evaluation of the perspectives of orthodontists in Turkey on the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusions

Aim: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the perspectives of orthodontists in our country on the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusions and the effect of factors such as the duration of orthodontists' profession and the institution they work in. Material and Method: The questionnaire we created with 24 questions was sent to the members registered in the Turkish Orthodontic Society via e-mail. The questionnaire was answered by a total of 168 people, 101 of whom were women and 67 were men. Results: In the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusions, the most preferred treatment option was removable functional appliance with 95.8%, while the least preferred treatment option was distraction osteogenesis with 19%. 83.9% of orthodontists stated that they consulted patients who they thought had mouth breathing to the otolaryngology outpatient clinic. The most frequently applied method for growth and development follow-up by orthodontists was hand-wrist film with 67.9%. Among orthodontists, the twin-block appliance was preferred most frequently with a rate of 56% as a removable functional appliance. Forsus appliance was the leading one in the fixed functional appliance preference with 48.8%. 66.7% of orthodontists stated that they applied orthognathic surgical treatment in their clinics. Conclusion: : The study determined that factors such as the institution, title, and tenure in the profession did not significantly impact the age of application or the duration of use for functional appliances. Private practice orthodontists were more inclined to utilize clear aligners when treating Class II skeletal malocclusion in adolescents than their university-based counterparts. Additionally, orthodontic residents demonstrated a higher preference for hand-wrist radiography compared to specialists and faculty orthodontists. Key Words: Skeletal Class II, Mandibular Retrognathia, Orthodontic Appliances, Orthognathic Surgery