EXPLORING RETENTION REALITIES: A SURVEY ON CURRENT ORTHODONTIC RETENTION PROTOCOLS

Abstract

Background And Aim: Retention is the final stage of an orthodontic therapy to maintain tooth positions achieved after active treatment which should be planned from the very beginning. This study aims to collect information on how orthodontists plan and manage the retention phase after orthodontic treatment and what orthodontists do in their everyday practice, including how they place retainers, how long they keep patients in retention, and how often they schedule follow up visits. Methods: An online survey was made using google forms consisting of 35 questionnaire was sent to orthodontists in Andhra Pradesh. 29 out of 35 questions were multiple choice and 6 open questions that required written answers. The data was categorical; Pearson’s chi-square test was applied for data analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: In total, 80 participants completed the survey with the majority of respondents were with <5 yrs (83.8%) of clinical experience. 52.5% of clinicians report that fewer than 10% of their patients experience relapse, though 35% see relapse in 10–25% of their patient base. Spacing is the most frequently observed type of relapse (68.75%), followed by lower anterior crowding (32.5%) Conclusion: The most common being fixed retainer in the mandible and dual retention, fixed, and thermoplastic retainer in the maxilla. The choice of retainer selection depends on multiple factors.