Objective• To identify the retention practices of specialist orthodontists in

the ROI.

Fig. 1 (A-C): Types of retainers

A– Upper Hawley retainer B– Lower fixed/bonded retainer (BR)

C - Upper and lower vacuum-formed retainers (VFR)

Materials and methods• A pilot-tested questionnaire was distributed to specialist

orthodontists in the ROI registered with the Dental Council of

Ireland and/or the Orthodontic Society of Ireland (n=123).

• Questions addressed retainer type, operator factors influencing

retainer choice, frequency of retainer checks and prescribed

retainer wear.

• Data were analysed using PASW® version 18.

Conclusions• VFRs are the most common retainer choice in the maxilla and the

mandible for specialist orthodontists in the ROI.

• Most respondents advised life-time wear of retainers.

References1.BSI. British Standards Institute Glossary of Dental Terms (BS4492). BSI, London. 1983.2.Littlewood S, Russell JS, RJ. S. Why do Orthodontic Cases Relapse? Orth Update. 2009;02:038-44.3 Renkema AM, Helene Sips ET, Bronkhorst E, Kuijpers-Jagtman AM. A survey on orthodontic retention procedures in the Netherlands. Eur J Orthod. 2009;31:432-7.4.Littlewood SJ, Millett DT, Doubleday B, Bearn DR, Worthington HV. Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006(1):CD002283.

BR VFR Hawley BR & VFRcombined

Other

3

53

1816

10

19

33

13

28

7

%

Response

Retainer type

Fig. 2: Most commonly used maxillary and mandibular retainer types

Maxilla ( N=94) Mandible ( N=93)

85

7159

49 46 4538

36

177 7 4

Response

number

Factors

Fig. 3: Operator factors that influence retainer choicePre-tx situation Oral hygiene situation Periodontal situationMotivation Wish of patient/parent End resultInterdigitation after treatment Age Anatomy of teethMyofunctional aspects Other factors Third molars

Introduction• Orthodontic relapse is the return, following correction of the

features of the original malocclusion1 and has been described as arguably the most common risk for orthodontic patients2 .

• When active orthodontic treatment has been completed, almost every patient is provided with some form of retainer type (Fig. 1 (A-C)) to minimise the risk of relapse.3

• Several retainer types and practices have been described but there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding retainer appliance type and practice.4

• Studies have been carried out to determine retention practices in several countries, but little information exists for the Republic of Ireland (ROI).

Results• Response rate was 82% (65 males; 36 females). • Fig. 2 shows the most commonly used maxillary and mandibular

retainer types. • Fig. 3 shows the operator factors that influenced retainer type choice.• During the first year post-orthodontic treatment, 93% of specialist

orthodontists carried out 2-4 retention checks following placement of a BR compared to 91% following placement of a removable retainer (RR)

• 76% of specialist orthodontists prescribed a period of full-time wear for RRs in the maxilla following comprehensive orthodontic treatment compared to 70% in the mandible.

• Night-time/’sleeping hours’ was the part-time wear protocol recommended by 72%.

• Patients prescribed RRs were advised life-time wear by 78% compared to those prescribed BRs who were advised life-time wear by 67%.

Design and setting• National, questionnaire based survey.

Orthodontic retention practices in the Republic of Ireland

M.J Meade* and D.T Millett

Cork University Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork, Ireland