Abstract
Background and aims. Since most orthodontic patients are children and adolescents, it is believed that teachers can
help find these patients and make them aware of their orthodontic problems. Therefore, teachers are expected to have
proper knowledge about these problems. The aim of this study was to determine teachers’ awareness about orthodontic
treatments in Tabriz and Saqqez and compare it in different educational levels.
Materials and methods. A questionnaire was given to 384 teachers (204 in Tabriz and 180 in Saqqez) in randomly
selected schools of different levels. The questionnaire had 17 questions in 3 sections, including general information, age,
and costs of orthodontic treatments. The teachers’ awareness in two cities was analyzed with independent t-test and in educational
levels with one-way ANOVA.
Results. About 94% of the participants believed orthodontic treatment consisted of arrangement of teeth with special
braces. However, there was no significant difference between the two cities in general information (p=0.23) and the age
suitable for orthodontic treatment (p=0.53). The differences in the teachers’ awareness in three educational levels were not
statistically significant between the two cities (p=0.23).
Conclusion. Awareness of teachers about orthodontic treatment in Saqqez and Tabriz was not sufficient and different;
75% of the participants believed that high cost of orthodontic treatment is the main problem