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Post-Orthodontic Retention: How Much Do People Know and How Do They Decide on Future Orthodontic Treatment and What Do They Expect? A Questionnaire-Based Survey

Original Research Article Objective: This study aimed to explore the level of knowledge and expectations people deciding on a future orthodontic treatment have about post-orthodontic retention and to investigate the influence of sociocultural characteristics. Material and methods: A total of 134 consecutive people involved as legal decision maker (as patient, parent, or legal guardian) for a prospective orthodontic treatment received before their first appointment a questionnaire to assess their knowledge and expectations about post-orthodontic retention. Data were analysed descriptively, where as predictors were identified with logistic regressions at P value of less than or equal to 0.05. Results: A total of 134 questionnaires were distributed to prospective orthodontic patients or their parents/legal guardian. The mean age of the 134 participants was <30 years (82.1%). The majority were male (70.1 per cent), of Indian nationality, had a close family member with previous experience of orthodontic treatment (72.4per cent), and reached out for an orthodontic consultation from their own initiative or self motivated (72.9 per cent). The participants’ level of knowledge on post-orthodontic retention. half of the participants (82.1 per cent) were aware that retention appliances are used after orthodontic treatment. Finally, the majority believed both that a perfect orthodontic result can guarantee the results’ stability (56.7per cent) and that teeth can also move on their own without any orthodontic appliances (63.4 per cent). As far as expectations of the participants toward orthodontic retention are concerned , only 45.5 per cent thought that the retention phase should be less than 1 year, 37.3per cent thought that it should last between 1 and 3 years, and the remaining 9.7 per cent believed it should extend more than 3–10 years or lifelong. The vast majority of participants (19.4 per cent) rated the stability of the orthodontic results as ‘rather important’ or ‘extremely important’, whereas most of them (45.5per cent) preferred a bonded retainer over a removable retention appliance. Most participants considered recalls were needed at 3 months’ intervals (45.5 per cent) or once a year (9.7 per cent). The majority considered that the person most responsible for post-orthodontic stability was the orthodontist, followed by themselves, and finally the general dentist (with percentages being 67.9 per cent). Finally, the vast majority of the participants agreed that it is appropriate to charge fees for recall visits needed during orthodontic retention (74.6 per cent). Conclusions: Although stability of orthodontic treatment results is very important to people deciding about a prospective orthodontic treatment, knowledge regarding the need for post orthodontic retention varies and may at times be contradictious. Sociocultural factors seem to influence the level of knowledge and the expectations on post-orthodontic retention.