Objectives: This study was aimed to explore the socio-demographic profile of orthodontic patients and their perceptions with regard to orthodontic treatment they received during COVID-19 pandemic from a public, tertiary care dental hospital in Sri Lanka. The relationships between socio-demographic profile of orthodontic patients and their perceptions on infection control strategies, safety of attending regular follow up of care during Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty in obtaining expected orthodontic treatment outcomes due to postponement of appointments were assessed.

Materials and Methods: Patients who were aged 17-44-years and attended orthodontic treatments during the pandemic with continued treatment at the time of data collection participated in this study. The sample comprised 400 orthodontic patients and data were collected in the year 2024, by a pre-tested, interviewer administered questionnaire complimented by clinical records and patients’ register.

Results: Patients were satisfied with infection control protocols implemented during the pandemic such as pre-screening, triaging, restricted treatment provision and testing for Covid-19 prior to providing aerosol generating orthodontic treatments. Moreover, patients perceived receiving routine orthodontic treatment during the pandemic as safe, which was significantly related to their level of education. More educated perceived safety better than their less educated counterpart (p=0.0001). However, such associations were not evident among orthodontic patients pertaining to perceived uncertainties in accomplishing orthodontic treatment outcomes due to postponement of routine orthodontic treatment during Covid-19 pandemic. Suggestions to improve the quality of care during pandemics included making arrangements for online appointments.

Conclusion: As emerged from the findings of this study, orthodontic patients expressed their satisfaction with infection control protocols that were in place during the pandemic, but articulated uncertainties in achieving expected treatment outcomes due to postponement of appointments. Therefore, findings of this study becomes useful in providing patient-centered orthodontic treatment services during and after a future pandemic, in resource constrained, low and lower-middle-income country settings.

Key Words: Perceptions, Orthodontic patients, Covid-19 pandemic, restricted treatment, infection control protocols, uncertainties