Patient attitudes toward retention and perceptions of treatment success

To discern patients' opinions regarding responsibility for orthodontic retention and to determine whether patient attitudes toward retention are related to perceptions of treatment success.

Questionnaires regarding orthodontic retention were distributed to first-year undergraduate college students (n = 158), first-year dental students (n = 183), and retention patients at orthodontic offices (n = 214). Items included treatment satisfaction, perceived responsibility for retention, type of retainer prescribed, reasons for discontinuing use of retainers, and relapse experienced.

Four hundred twenty-eight of 555 participants indicated that they had received orthodontic treatment. Most indicated they were either "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their teeth, both at the end of treatment (96%) and currently (84%). There was a strong relationship between the perception of stability of tooth position and current satisfaction level (P < .0001). Most individuals (88%) indicated that they themselves were responsible for maintaining the alignment and fit of their teeth. Those who indicated that someone else was responsible were nearly twice as likely to be dissatisfied with their teeth (P = .0496). Patients who had been prescribed clear, invisible retainers were significantly more likely to be "very satisfied" currently (50%) compared to those with Hawley (35%) or permanently bonded (36%) retainers (P = .0002). Patients with Hawley retainers were significantly less likely to be wearing them currently as prescribed (45%) than those with invisible (65%) or bonded (68%) retainers (P < .0001).

Satisfaction with orthodontic results after treatment is related to patient perceptions of responsibility for retention and perceived stability of tooth position. Patients should play a contributory role in formulating orthodontic retention plans.