Factors influencing the duration of orthodontic treatment for patients with a class II malocclusion treated with a functional/fixed appliance approach

• Main Author: Mohammd, Alaa
• Published: University of Liverpool 2015
• Subjects: 617.6; RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.677552

Background: Information regarding the various factors that can influence the duration of orthodontic treatment has been investigated before; however, despite the increasing amount of evidence becoming available, controversy still exists. Therefore, this investigation was considered to be useful as additional information to the orthodontic literature. Aim: To determine factors associated with the duration of orthodontic treatment for patients with a Class II malocclusion treated with a functional/fixed appliance approach to treatment. Design: Retrospective, observational study. Setting: Orthodontic Department, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, UK. Method: Data were collected from the records of eligible patients. Inclusion criteria: Patients were included if they had: 1) Undergone a course of orthodontic treatment involving a first phase of treatment with the Twin-Block appliance between the 1st of January 2005 and 31st of December 2008; 2) A Class II dental malocclusion; 3) Required a functional/fixed orthodontic approach to orthodontic treatment; 4) Completed two phases of orthodontic treatment; 5) Records available in a satisfactory condition. Outcome measures: • Duration of the functional appliance phase of orthodontic treatment • Total duration of orthodontic treatment Results: The pre-treatment overjet was the only factor that had a statistically significant influence on the duration of the functional phase of the treatment (p= 0.016). The factors that were statistically significant predictors for the duration of the full course of orthodontic treatment were: the number of treating clinicians (p=0.001), the number of failed appointments (p=0.001), the chronological age of the patient (p=0.002) and whether the patient had extractions or not (p=0.021). Conclusions: 1. The only factor that had a statistically significantly influence on the duration of the functional phase of treatment was the overjet at the start of treatment (positive association). 2. The factors that had a statistically significantly influence on the total treatment duration were the: a) Number of the treating clinicians (positive association); b) Number of appointments the patients failed to attend (positive association); c) Chronological age of the patient (negative association); d) Presence or absence of dental extractions (positive association).