Orthodontic Treatment Compliance and Duration Among Adolescent and Young Patients at Smiles Dental Clinic

Abstract

Introduction: Patient compliance is a core issue as it can strongly affect the objectives and results of orthodontic treatment and the length of time a patient must wear orthodontic appliances.

Objective: This study aimed to explore factors affecting compliance and duration of orthodontic treatment among patients at Smiles Dental Clinic, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Methods: Dental records for 2016 to 2023 of 176 adolescent and young orthodontic patients aged 10 to 24 years were extracted from a private dental clinic in the city of Dar Es Salaam. The collected secondary data included the age and sex of the patient, duration of treatment, missed appointments, oral hygiene, bracket and molar tube failure, insurance status and whether a patient was a day or boarding school student.

Results: The majority of the patients demonstrated inadequate compliance with orthodontic treatment. A significantly higher proportion of non-insured patients (15.9%) demonstrated good compliance to orthodontic treatment than insured (5.9%). A significantly high proportion of boarding school patients missed appointments and frequently experienced breakage of orthodontic appliances. Treatment duration was significantly longer in patients who missed appointments, with poor compliance and bracket and/or molar tube breakage. Variance in treatment duration was explained most significantly by bracket breakage.

Conclusion: The studied patients had poor orthodontic compliance, which negatively impacted the treatment duration.