2.1 Search strategy initiation
In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Figure 1) [11], registration was completed prior to the commencement of the study. PRISMA checklist 2020 added as supplementary Table S1. The research protocol was developed to achieve the objectives and correctly submitted to PROSPERO [CRD42023407261]. PICOS is an acronym used in evidence-based medicine to define the key components of a research question. In the case of a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment, the PICOS strategy would be as follows:
• P - Population: Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment
• I - Intervention: Portraiture photography
• C - Comparison: No portraiture photography or alternative methods of dental photography
• O - Outcome: Improvement in treatment planning, patient education, or treatment outcomes
• S - Study design: Randomized controlled trials or observational studies
Using this PICOS strategy, the research question for this systematic review and meta-analysis would be: In patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, what is the impact of portraiture photography compared to no portraiture photography or alternative methods of dental photography on treatment planning, patient education, and treatment outcomes? This review would include randomized controlled trials and observational studies that assess the use of portraiture photography in orthodontic treatment, and would focus on the impact of this intervention on key outcomes such as treatment planning, patient education, and treatment outcomes.
2.2 Search strategy implementation
The following search strategy was used across four online databases to identify relevant articles for our investigation using MeSH keywords and a combination of Boolean operators:
• PubMed- (((((((((((((("Photography"[Mesh]) OR "Portraits as Topic"[Mesh]) OR "Dental Photography"[Mesh]) OR "Orthodontics"[Mesh]) OR "Dentistry"[Mesh]) OR "Dental Care"[Mesh]) OR "Orthodontic Appliances"[Mesh]) OR "Orthodontic Brackets"[Mesh]) OR "Orthodontic Wires"[Mesh]) OR "Orthodontic Records"[Mesh]) OR "Orthodontic Models"[Mesh]) AND (("Treatment Outcome"[Mesh]) OR "Patient Education as Topic"[Mesh])) AND (((((((("Humans"[Mesh]) AND "English"[lang]) AND ("2019/03/15"[PDat] : "2023/03/15"[PDat])) AND "Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic"[Mesh]) OR "Observational Study"[ptyp]) OR "Cohort Studies"[Mesh]) OR "Case-Control Studies"[Mesh]) OR "Cross-Sectional Studies"[Mesh]))
• Google Scholar- (portraiture photography OR dental photography OR orthodontic photography) AND (orthodontic treatment OR orthodontics OR dental care) AND (treatment outcomes OR patient education) AND ("randomized controlled trials" OR observational study OR cohort study OR case-control study OR cross-sectional study)
• Web of Science- TS=(portraiture photography OR dental photography OR orthodontic photography) AND TS=(orthodontic treatment OR orthodontics OR dental care) AND TS=(treatment outcomes OR patient education) AND (PT=(randomized controlled trial) OR PT=(observational study) OR PT=(cohort study) OR PT=(case-control study) OR PT=(cross-sectional study))
• Scopus- TITLE-ABS-KEY(portraiture photography OR dental photography OR orthodontic photography) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY(orthodontic treatment OR orthodontics OR dental care) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY(treatment outcomes OR patient education) AND (DOCTYPE(ar) OR DOCTYPE(cr) OR DOCTYPE(arcp) OR DOCTYPE(co) OR DOCTYPE(sc))
2.3 Inclusion and exclusion criterion for the review
To identify relevant studies for the systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment, a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria were established. Only studies published from 2013 to the present were considered for inclusion in the analysis. This was done to ensure that the findings of the review were based on current research and reflected the most recent advances in orthodontic treatment. Studies that assessed the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment outcomes, patient education, or treatment planning were included. Only randomized controlled trials or observational studies were considered, as they provide the highest level of evidence in the medical literature. Studies that included a comparison group without the use of portraiture photography or with alternative methods of dental photography were also included in the analysis. Finally, only studies that reported quantitative data were considered for inclusion, as this allowed for the most accurate assessment of the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment.
2.4 Reviewer evaluation
To ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data extracted for the systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment, multiple reviewers were involved in the data selection process. After conducting the initial search across multiple databases, the reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of the identified studies against the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Any discrepancies between the reviewers were resolved through discussion and consensus. Following the title and abstract screening, the full texts of the selected studies were obtained and reviewed by the reviewers. A data extraction form was used to collect the relevant information from each study. The variables that were assessed included study design, sample size, intervention type, comparator type, outcome measures, and results. The reviewers independently extracted the data from each study, and any discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus.
After the data extraction process was completed, the extracted data were cross-checked for accuracy and completeness. Any errors or missing data were identified and resolved through discussion and consensus between the reviewers. The extracted data were then compiled and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods to assess the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment outcomes.
2.5 Bias assessment
To ensure the validity and reliability of the systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment, the reviewers used two tools for bias assessment. The first tool was the JBI Risk of Bias tool (Figure 2) [12], which was used to assess the risk of bias in the selected studies. This tool allowed the reviewers to assess the quality of each study by examining potential sources of bias, including selection bias, performance bias, detection bias, attrition bias, and reporting bias. The reviewers used this tool to critically appraise the quality of the selected studies and to identify any potential biases that may have affected the results.
The second tool used was the AXIS tool (Figure 3) [12], which was used to assess bias within the review itself. This tool allowed the reviewers to assess the quality and reliability of the review process by examining potential sources of bias, including selection bias, performance bias, detection bias, attrition bias, and reporting bias. The reviewers used this tool to identify any potential biases that may have affected the review process and to ensure that the review was conducted in a rigorous and systematic manner.
The reviewers selected these tools because they are widely recognized as valid and reliable tools for assessing bias in research studies and systematic reviews. By using these tools, the reviewers were able to ensure that the findings of the review were based on high-quality research and that the review process itself was conducted in a rigorous and systematic manner. Ultimately, this helped to enhance the validity and reliability of the review and to ensure that the findings were useful and informative for clinicians and researchers working in the field of orthodontic treatment.
2.6 Protocol for statistics
In order to conduct the meta-analysis for the systematic review on the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment, the reviewers used the RevMan 5 software. This software allowed the reviewers to analyze and synthesize the data from the selected studies using a random effects model. The software generated odds ratio (OR) and risk ratio (RR) forest plots to depict the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment and diagnostic modalities in the total sample size of the selected studies.
The OR and RR forest plots generated by the RevMan 5 software provided a visual representation of the data and allowed the reviewers to easily compare the results of the selected studies. The random effects model used in the analysis helped to account for the variability between the studies and to estimate the true effect size of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment outcomes. Overall, the RevMan 5 software played a critical role in the meta-analysis process by allowing the reviewers to analyze and synthesize the data from the selected studies in a systematic and rigorous manner. The OR and RR forest plots generated by the software provided a clear and concise summary of the results of the analysis, which helped to inform the conclusions of the systematic review on the impact of portraiture photography on orthodontic treatment.