A Phenomenological Study on Patients' Experiences With Extraction Retraction Orthodontic Regret

Background Extraction retraction orthodontic (ERO) practices are commonly used to treat every malocclusion. Occasionally, patients express dissatisfaction over the previous ERO treatment. This study investigates the experience of those who have had ERO intervention and expressed regret or dissatisfaction with this treatment. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who have expressed regret over past ERO treatment. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to derive themes from transcripts. Results Eleven participants were recruited, who gave informed consent and participated in the semi-structured interview process. Six major themes were identified through IPA: "ERO Treatment Course", "Lack of Informed Consent", "Ocean of Grief and Trauma" to describe the overall patient emotional experience, "Multifaceted Health Complaints", "Finding Solutions and Coping Strategies", and "Wishing There Was a Better Way". Participants felt like they were not able to give informed consent for ERO due to a number of different reasons such as being too young, not being given accurate information on the risks, or being influenced parentally, culturally, or by the provider. Participants regret ERO due to a number of multifaceted health complaints, including but not limited to sleep breathing disorders, craniofacial pain patterns, neuropsychobehavioural symptoms, and negative aesthetic outcomes that they believe result from ERO. Conclusion Patient regret following extraction retraction orthodontics is due to a lack of informed consent and negative health and aesthetic effects. To prevent this regret, future research and practice direction should focus on improving the informed consent process, promoting optimal dentofacial development and non-extraction-retraction therapies.