Wear-time monitoring in functional orthodontic appliances does not enhance patient satisfaction and is not associated with improved treatment duration or occlusal outcomes: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Thermosensitive microsensors help assess removable appliance wear-time compliance and thereby provide objective feedback to the patient.

METHODS

This single-center, two-parallel-arm randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of wear-time monitoring in removable functional appliances on patients' subjective experience, treatment duration, and outcome. In total, 58 patients aged between 10 and 15 years were treated with either a twin-block appliance or headgear activator. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups, one of which received wear-time monitoring while the other did not. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat and per-protocol basis using parametric and nonparametric statistics to assess associations between the outcome variables. No blinding of the patient or orthodontist was carried out. No harms were detected.

RESULTS

Adolescents reported wear comfort ranging from poor to excellent, significantly correlating with wear time and malocclusion correction success, but not with treatment duration. The twin-block appliance was worn for an average of 10 hours a day, while the headgear activator was worn for 4 hours a day. For those 39 adolescents with successful occlusal outcomes, mean wear time was 10 hours and 9 hours, respectively, and the average treatment duration was 13 months. The dropout rate was 21%.

CONCLUSIONS

Wear-time monitoring in twin-block appliance and headgear activator did not significantly increase subjective satisfaction, shorten the treatment time, or increase the frequency of successful occlusal outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05213338.