Barber S, Bekker H, Marti J, Pavitt S, Khambay B, Meads D. Adolescent and Parent Preferences for Hypodontia: Discrete Choice Experiment. J Dent Res 2022; DOI: 10.1177/00220345221111386. Online ahead of print.

Appearance is an important outcome from hypodontia treatment.

This study examined young people and parents' preferences for hypodontia treatment using discrete choice experiment (DCE). This was a cross-sectional survey of young people (12-16 years) with hypodontia. Participants were recruited from NHS hospitals in England and Wales. A bespoke DCE questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was completed: 1) online by young people and parents, individually or together; and 2) by child-parent dyads under observation. In total, 204 participants completed the online questionnaire, and 15 child-parent dyads completed the questionnaire under observation. The most important attribute in hypodontia treatment was improvement in appearance, but significant heterogeneity was found in preferences. Four distinct groups of participants were found: group 1 (39%): severe discomfort and problems were most important; group 2 (31%): most concerned about improvement in appearance of teeth and improvement in bite; group 3 (22%): appearance three times more important than any other attribute; and group 4 (9%): preferences difficult to interpret. Making trade-offs in DCE tasks helped some people think about treatment and identify their preferences. Appearance is an important outcome from hypodontia treatment, but preferences vary, and potential risks and functional outcome are also important to some people. There is a notable level of uncertainty in decision-making, which suggests further shared decision support would be valuable.