[Predictors of re-consultation and impact of the retainer on relapse and debonding rate ten years after removal of orthodontic appliances].

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.