Assessment of contributing factors for discontinuation of orthodontic treatment

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence and associated contributory factors for discontinuation of orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted with the treatment records, whose orthodontic treatment was commenced in the year 2015 at the Division of Orthodontics, University Dental Hospital, Peradeniya. Information regarding age, gender, type of malocclusion, Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, appliance type, duration of treatment, extraction versus non-extraction, stage of treatment, and the cost of treatment was obtained from the patient’s records. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical software R 3.5.0. Results: The sample consisted of 310 treatment cases, of which 40 (12.9%) patients were discontinued. Among the discontinued patients, 50.6% were male and 49.3% were female. The discontinuation rate in the group of 12–17 years was higher than the other age groups, which was statistically significant (P = 0.005). Among the group of discontinued treatment, 49.3% were of Class II division 1 malocclusion and 37.1% and 37.4% of patients were in Grade 3 and 4 of IOTN, respectively. About 37% of patients have been discontinued before completion of 1 year which was statistically significant (P = 0.0005). About 59.5% of non-extraction patients were in the treatment discontinuation group which was also statistically significant (P = 0.023). About 32.5% of the patients who discontinued have obtained the treatment with the lowest cost with statistical significance (P = 0.026). Conclusion: Children with borderline and moderate occlusal irregularities treated with simple removable appliances which are affordable with low cost were more prone to discontinue in the early phase of active treatment.