A Thousand Consecutive Treated Orthodontic Cases—A Survey

Abstract

An analysis of 1000 consecutive treated cases from a private orthodontic practice was made. Inter alia the results show: the male to female ratio was 4: 6; the mean age of first attendance was 10·7 years and the mean age at the start of active treatment was 11·6 years. 49 per cent of the cases were Angle Class I; 39 per cent Class II/1; 8 per cent Class II/2 and 4 per cent Class III. Over half the patients had an increased overbite. 21 per cent had an anterior crossbite and 11 per cent showed a posterior crossbite. Approximately 75 per cent of the cases showed crowding of the labial segments. There was crowding in 26 per cent of the upper buccal segments and in 49 per cent of the lower ones. 93 per cent of the patients received active treatment for the upper arch but only 4 per cent had appliances in the lower arch. A quarter of the cases were treated without upper extractions; in the lower arch the figure was 58 per cent. 94.1 per cent of the patients were treated with removable appliances requiring, on average, 1·5 appliances per case to complete treatment. 30 per cent of the cases received no retention. 54 per cent wore a retainer for less than 6 months. 88 per cent of the patients completed treatment and co-operation was satisfactory in 87 per cent. The mean treatment period for each patient was 13·1 months involving an average of 11·7 visits. The average active treatment time for each patients was 95 minutes. 74 per cent of the completed cases had a satisfactory result. The discussion supports the case for relating the type of orthodontic treatment to the total dental need of the patient. This requires more knowledge of what is meant by “dental health”. A plea is made that orthodontists should not become rigid in their approach to treatment.