[Dropouts from orthodontic treatment. Factors which cause it]

Dropout of orthodontic treatment is something common in our services, but up to here, its possible causes have not been determined, therefore, a study is performed to a group of patients who had deserted from "La Vigía" Teaching Stomatologic Clinics, Department of Orthodontics, and who was on admission during 1981 and 1982. It was found that 18.9% of the patients on admission had interrupted treatment. A questionnaire related to possible causes of dropout was applied to the group and the most common causes for given up to treatment were detected: the patient was poorly motivated and lack of information on some important aspects of treatment on the part of the orthodontist.