Assessing the Impact of Removable Orthodontic Retainers on Oral Health Related Quality of Life: Non-Randomized Clinical Trial

Atefe Saffar  Shahroudi; Rashin  Bahrami

doi:10.18502/fid.v22i43.19976

Atefe Saffar Shahroudi Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rashin Bahrami Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/fid.v22i43.19976

Keywords: Appliance; Removable Orthodontic; orthodontic retainer; Quality of life; Questionnaire

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-perceived satisfaction of patients wearing Hawley (HR) or Essix retainer (ER) using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire.

Materials and Methods: Sixty patients who had recently completed orthodontic treatment and received either an HR or ER were recruited. Participants completed the OHIP-14 questionnaire one week (T₁) and two months (T₂) after receiving their retainers. Self-perceived satisfaction with the retainers was also recorded.

Results: The ER group showed significantly lower overall OHIP-14 scores than the HR group at both T₁ and T₂. In 14 OHIP items, HR scored higher in all except “sense of taste” (T₁ and T₂), “unsatisfactory diet” (T₁), and “uncomfortable eating” (T₂). From T₁ to T₂, overall OHIP-14 scores decreased significantly in both groups, with reductions in 10 items for ER and 8 items for HR. The mean satisfaction score (out of 3) was higher for ER (2.5±0.5) than for HR (1.23±0.43), and satisfaction increased significantly in both groups over time.

Conclusion: ER had less negative impact on OHRQoL than HR. After two months, most OHIP-14 dimensions showed improvement in both groups, indicating patient adaptation to retainers and reduced discomfort over time. Adaptation was slightly greater with ER, and overall satisfaction was higher compared to HR.