Department of Orthodontics, The Institute for Postgraduate Dental Education, Jönköping, Sweden.
Acta Odontol Scand. 2010 Jan;68(1):19-26. doi: 10.3109/00016350903281740.
Although many countries offer some publicly funded orthodontic treatment for children, not all conditions receive treatment and some adolescents enter adulthood with persisting poor dental aesthetics or malocclusions. The aim of this study was to generate a theory highlighting the main concerns of young adults, either native-born or of immigrant background, with poor dental aesthetics and the measures they adopt to manage their condition in everyday life.
A qualitative method, classic grounded theory, was applied in order to generate a substantive theory highlighting the main concerns and managing mechanisms of 13 strategically selected 19- and 20-year-olds with poor dental aesthetics. Open interviews were conducted with each participant, the topics covering different aspects of social and dental conditions.
A core category and three conceptual categories were generated. The core category was labelled "Being under the pressure of social norms" and was related to categories explaining three different ways in which these young adults handle their main concern: (1) avoiding showing their teeth; (2) minimizing the importance of appearance; and (3) seeking orthodontic treatment. The theory offers the potential for improved understanding of young adults who, despite poor dental aesthetics, are managing well with life, and also of those who have not adjusted well.
In early adolescence it may be problematic to make decisions about orthodontic treatment. Undisclosed dental fear can be an important barrier. Some of the young adults in the present study would probably benefit from treatment.
尽管许多国家为儿童提供了一些公共资金支持的正畸治疗，但并非所有情况都得到治疗，一些青少年成年后面临持续存在的不良牙齿美观或错颌问题。本研究旨在提出一个理论，重点关注有不良牙齿美观问题的年轻成年人（包括本地出生和移民背景的年轻人）的主要关注点，以及他们在日常生活中管理这种状况所采取的措施。
采用定性方法，即经典扎根理论，生成一个突出有不良牙齿美观的 19 至 20 岁的 13 名战略选择参与者的主要关注点和管理机制的实质性理论。对每位参与者进行开放式访谈，主题涵盖社会和牙齿状况的不同方面。
生成了一个核心类别和三个概念类别。核心类别为“承受社会规范的压力”，与解释这些年轻人处理主要关注点的三种不同方式的类别相关：（1）避免露出牙齿；（2）最小化外观的重要性；（3）寻求正畸治疗。该理论为更好地理解尽管存在不良牙齿美观问题但仍能很好地应对生活的年轻人，以及那些尚未适应的年轻人提供了可能性。
在青少年早期，可能难以就正畸治疗做出决定。未公开的牙齿恐惧可能是一个重要的障碍。本研究中的一些年轻人可能会受益于治疗。
