[The clinical and psychological indicators of behavior in wearing a removable appliance]

Abstract

Compliance with wearing removable appliances cannot be determined directly from progress noted in the course of treatment. The orthodontist's judgement is influenced by many and varied observations and the evidence they yield is often unclear. We studied 104 orthodontic patients aged nine to 16 years using as data treatment records, provider and patient questionnaires, and oral hygiene indexes. In addition the Luescher psychological color test was administered to a subgroup and the duration of compliance wear was objectively measured. We found little consistency among different compliance indicators. Studying the patient's keeping of appointments, his oral hygiene habits, and appliance maintenance did not result in general conclusions pertaining to the patient's compliance with wearing the appliance. Only over a longer period it is possible to determine through clinical observation the patient's cooperation in his treatment. More promising on the other hand for better evaluating patient compliance behavior is the combination of information obtained clinically with the results obtained through psychological tests.