Oral Health Behaviour, Patient/Parent-Orthodontist Relationship and Compliance of Nigerian Adolescents to Fixed Orthodontic Appliance Treatment

Abstract

Background: Poor oral health behaviour and non-compliance to orthodontic instructions have been reported to diminish the
satisfactory outcome and benefits that a patient experiences during or after orthodontic treatment. The purposes of this study were to assess the oral health behaviour, patient/parent-orthodontist relationship, and the socio-demographic factors influencing compliance of Nigerian adolescents to fixed orthodontic appliance treatment.

Methods: A 28-item questionnaire was administered to 146 adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment in three Nigerian teaching hospitals located in different cities with varying levels of population density. The questions assessed oral health behaviour, level of compliance to instructions during treatment, and the level of interaction of the patient with the orthodontist. Results: While more female patients frequently indulged in chewing sticky sweets (p<0.05), the males were more involved in contact sports (p<0.001) during the fixed orthodontic appliance treatment. Mother's educational level, the population density of the city where the dental practice is located, and the length of treatment influenced orthodontic compliance significantly (p<0.05). Personal likeness for the orthodontist, awareness of the consequences of poor compliance by patients, as well as prior discussion of treatment goals with parents significantly improved compliance to orthodontic treatment.
Conclusions: This study concluded that gender affected oral health behaviour during orthodontic treatment. Mother's level of
education, awareness of deleterious effects of treatment, duration of orthodontic treatment, and patient/parent-orthodontist relationship, significantly influenced compliance to fixed orthodontic appliance therapy.