An investigation of patient removable retainer preference.

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  "Which removable orthodontic retainer will my patient wear best?"

• IRAS ID

  162397

• Contact name

  Gahder-Sara/GS Atia

• Contact email

  gahdersara.atia@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 4 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  The active phase of orthodontic treatment is concerned with the correction of maligned teeth, aiming to achieve an ideal aesthetic and functional position. Once in this position the active orthodontic appliances (braces) are removed and the patient moves into the retention phase of treatment.
  To maintain teeth in their corrected positions orthodontic retainer appliances are used. A number of different types of retainer appliances have been described, these include two types of commonly used removable appliances, the Hawley retainer and the Vacuum formed retainer (VFR). These are worn by patients for part of a 24 hour period, usually just at night. In 2006 a Cochrane review of all types of retainers, it was concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend any one type of retainer over another in terms of efficiency. However as both of the most popular retainers in the UK are removable the efficacy would be affected by patient compliance. This emphasises that patient preference is an important factor in making a retainer choice. The aim of this proposed study is to investigate if there is a difference in patient preference between the two removable retainers currently used. Patients completing their course of fixed brace treatment will be recruited and asked to wear both of the currently used removable retainers for 3 month periods, night time only (routine practice). After each 3 month period they will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their experiences and to indicate which is their preferred retainer. Additionally moulds of the patient's teeth will be taken. Three sets of moulds will be taken in total. These moulds will be used to fabricate study models of the patients teeth. These models will indicate if there has been tooth movement, which in turn indicates a degree of non compliance with the prescribed retainer regime.

• REC name

  Wales REC 4

• REC reference

  15/WA/0320

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 Dec 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion