Adult orthodontics in the absence of orthognathic treatment: a hospital perspective

Abstract

Objective: To examine adult orthodontic treatment within two hospital settings and ascertain whether any factors have a statistically significant effect on treatment outcomes.

Design: A retrospective observational study.

Materials and methods: Through the analysis of hospital case notes, variables relating to adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment that did not involve orthognathic surgery between 1991 and 2008 at the Eastman Dental and Croydon University Hospitals, were studied. In addition, a proportion of study models were Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) scored to determine treatment outcome.

Results: Females accounted for 76·2% of the adults studied, with a mean age of 31·24 years. The most commonly presenting malocclusion was a class II division 1 incisor relationship on a class II skeletal base, with over half of all patients studied having missing teeth upon presentation. The mean treatment length was 2·29 years. Only the type of orthodontic treatment (orthodontic-only or multidisciplinary) and/or the presence of a crowded upper labial segment had a statistically significant effect on treatment outcomes, as measured by PAR scores.

Conclusion: This study has highlighted demographical and treatment trends from a cohort of adult patients studied within two hospital orthodontic departments. It also illustrates that a crowded upper labial segment and the type of treatment provided has a statistically significant effect on post-treatment PAR scores

Keywords:

• Adult
• hospital
• orthodontics
• treatment outcomes

Acknowledgments

We would like to gratefully acknowledge Mr Austin Banner at Croydon University Hospital for allowing access to the orthodontic records of his patients.