Failed appointments in an academic orthodontic clinic

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Orthodontic Patient Management

Background:

• Patient non-attendance at orthodontic appointments presents a significant challenge in dental schools.
• Understanding the reasons for missed appointments is crucial for optimizing treatment delivery and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary reasons for patients failing to attend scheduled orthodontic appointments.
• To explore associated circumstances influencing appointment adherence in a dental school setting.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, single-center postal questionnaire study was conducted.
• Data were collected from patients who missed appointments at a university orthodontic department in Belfast during the first six months of 1994.

Main Results:

• Illness, other commitments, and forgetfulness were the most common reasons for missed appointments.
• A majority of appointment failures occurred during preferred attendance times, and only half of patients attempted to cancel.
• Despite issues with attendance, patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment was high (70%).

Conclusions:

• Automated telephone reminder systems and advance awareness of school commitments could reduce missed appointments.
• Emphasizing the importance of appointment cancellation is vital.
• Overbooking patients wearing retainers in specialized sessions may improve clinic efficiency.