[Calling the irregular patients--way of practice or helplessness of the social orthodontics?]

Analysis of a group of 954 patients receiving orthodontic treatment showed that 46.1% had kept their appointments regularly, 32.1% had been sent one reminder, 15.8% two, 4.4% three, 1.2% four and 0.4% had received five reminders. In patients receiving reminders the results of treatment were often less favourable or could not be evaluated. The authors conclude that reminders, though useful, do not appreciably improve the patient's collaboration. They feel that uncooperative patients should be required to pay a part of the treatment costs, and recommend regular attendance for follow-up to be used as the criterion.