Interceptive orthodontics in practice: a 5-year population-based study

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Interceptive orthodontic treatment is crucial for managing developing dentition in children.
• General dental practitioners (GDPs) deliver a significant portion of this care within publicly funded systems.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of this care model is essential for optimizing pediatric dental health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the scope and short-term outcomes of interceptive orthodontic treatments provided by GDPs.
• To analyze treatment data within a large, publicly funded healthcare system.
• To identify factors influencing treatment success in routine clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≤18 years receiving publicly funded interceptive orthodontics (2020-2024).
• Analysis of 21,946 treatment records, focusing on four common appliances: Activator, Extraoral Traction, Quad Helix, and Removable Plate.
• Data included patient demographics, treatment indications, duration, visits, and appliance-specific outcomes.

Main Results:

• Over 21,946 treatments were delivered, with Removable Plates and Activators being most common.
• Treatments initiated in late mixed dentition (mean age 10.2-11.2 years) with a mean duration of 11-20 months.
• Success rates varied by appliance: Quad Helix (82%), Removable Plates (65%), Extraoral Traction (57%), and Activators (56%), with compliance being a key factor in failures.

Conclusions:

• Real-world evidence indicates that interceptive orthodontic treatment outcomes in routine public care reflect clinical conditions, with success rates lower than in randomized trials.
• Appliance selection, treatment timing, and patient compliance are critical determinants of successful outcomes.
• This dataset provides a basis for future research on long-term effectiveness and cost-efficiency.