Lower bonded retainers: survival and failure rates particularly considering operator experience

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the frequency and type of lower bonded retainer failures and to analyze the possible influence of operator experience.

Patients and methods: The records of 1062 patients with lower bonded retainers were analyzed with respect to retainer type and failure, timing of failure and differences among operators.

Results: 34.9% of all patients experienced retainer failure. Cuspid retainers with two bonding sites failed significantly less often than multiple teeth retainers with six bonding sites. One or more bonding sites became detached in 22.8% of the patients, 17.9% had at least one total retainer loss, while only 0.8% of the patients suffered from retainer fractures. Experienced orthodontists exhibited significantly fewer failures than postgraduate students.

Conclusions: The present cohort presented a relatively high failure rate of 34.9%. Lower bonded cuspid retainers failed somewhat less often than 3-3 retainers. In addition less operator experience was likely to correlate with a higher failure rate.