Lüscher colour test in orthodontic patients. Practicability for compliance assessment?

ABSTRACT

The Lüscher colour test has been repeatedly recommended as a tool for the prediction of orthodontic treatment course and patient cooperation despite its scientific shortcomings. A series of studies involving patients aged 9 to 16 years undergoing treatment with removable appliances at various orthodontic practices and at one university clinic provided no evidence of systematic correlations between Lüscher test colour preferences and cooperation with appliance wear. There was only slight consistency in colour preferences in a re-test conducted a few months after baseline measurements. Statistical evaluation of specific hypotheses and exploratory analysis of the global potential of the test provided no support for generalizable and useful correlations between colour preferences and patient compliance. Therefore the Lüscher test cannot be generally recommended for the rating of patient compliance in the clinical orthodontic practice.