Orthodontic retention patterns in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether retention patterns in the UK are influenced by operator gender, age or sphere of practice.

DESIGN: Postal self-completed questionnaire.

SETTINGS: Private practice, NHS practice, hospital practice and community practice.

SUBJECTS: Two hundred and forty orthodontists out of 301 returned their questionnaires (80% response).

METHOD: Respondents were asked to report on their retention regimes for a hypothetical crowded class II division I case in the one or more practice settings they worked in.

RESULTS: Most respondents (61%) worked in more than one practice setting. Vacuum retainers were the most commonly used type in NHS practice and hospital practice while Hawley retainers were frequently used in community practice. Vacuum retainers were also most popular in private practice though often used in conjunction with bonded retainers in both arches, particularly the mandible. Regression analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant associations between retainer preference and gender or age. However, trends were identified that suggested females were less likely to use bonded retainers in the maxilla than males, and older clinicians were more likely to use bonded retainers in the mandible than younger colleagues. Practice setting differences were found to be statistically significant (P< or =0.004) with bonded retainers being more frequently used in private practice.

CONCLUSIONS: Vacuum retainers are popular in NHS, hospital and private practice. Bonded retainers are more commonly used in private practice than in other settings.