Characteristics of patients seeking orthodontic retreatment.

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate patients' experiences with previous orthodontic treatment for those seeking retreatment, and their expectations and motivation for doing so.

Methods: A total of 72 patients were invited to answer an anonymous questionnaire. Of these, 36 (13 men and 23 women, mean age 26.3 ± 5.8 years) were seeking retreatment (study group), and 36 (13 men and 23 women, mean age 25.5 ± 6.8 years) were seeking treatment for the first time (control group). Casts from both groups were assessed with the index of complexity, outcome, and need (ICON) score, to objectively determine the treatment need and complexity. Student`s t test for independent samples, and paired Student`s t test, were performed for comparisons between the retreatment and control groups, and between retreatment and previous treatment, respectively.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between retreatment patients` motivation for the previous treatment and motivation for the retreatment. However, the mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores for motivation differed significantly between the retreatment and control groups (73.8 ± 23.9 and 87.5 ± 14.5, respectively). The mean ICON score of the retreatment group was lower than that for the control group (25 ± 14 and 31 ± 16, respectively).

Conclusions: Patients seeking retreatment were less motivated for treatment, and tooth irregularity was the chief reason for seeking treatment in both groups. Although an objective treatment need was not observed in the 2 groups, all of them had some occlusal traits that clinically justified the orthodontic treatment.