[Predictors of re-consultation and impact of the retainer on relapse and debonding rate ten years after removal of orthodontic appliances]. / Facteurs prédictifs de reconsultation et influence du dispositif de contention sur la récidive et le taux de recollage dix ans après la dépose orthodontique.

ABSTRACT

Once the orthodontic retention phase is complete, a number of patients return to the office following retainer detachment or complaining about the stability of the result. The aim of this study was to search for predictors of re-consultation and to evaluate how the choice of retainer impacts re-consultation for misalignment or debonding. A systematic retrospective cohort study was conducted ten years after removal of orthodontic appliances. Of the 380 patients included, 23% re-consulted on average 4.5 years after appliance removal. The patients most likely to re-consult were those with a severe initial aesthetic deficit. Mandibular retainers bonded on six teeth resulted in three-fold more re-consultations than wires bonded exclusively on the canines, but the difference was non-significant. Mandibular retainers bonded on the canines certainly generated significantly more maintenance appointments than the six-teeth retainers, but fewer malposition problems (non-significant result). These results raise questions regarding indications for bonded maxillary retainers as opposed to removable devices and also regarding the management of long-term post-retention follow-up.