Published Online: Dec 15, 2023
Page range: 47 - 55
Received: Jun 01, 2002
Accepted: Sep 01, 2002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2003-0007
© 2003 Richard J. Olive et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Background: Previous studies of stability and relapse after orthodontic treatment report short-term stability is generally followed by slow relapse to the original condition. What these studies do not report is whether this relapse is continuous or interspersed with periods of improvement or stability.
Methods: A subjective 0–10 index of malocclusion was used to record post-treatment stability and relapse over 10 to 12 years following fixed appliance orthodontic treatment of 24 patients. The severity scores were plotted on timelines.
Results: Episodes of change, both favourable and unfavourable, were interspersed with episodes of stability.
Conclusions: Changes in the first 3 and 12 months post-treatment are indicative of the 10 to 12 years post-treatment outcomes. This index may provide a useful instrument to analyze patients and/or their study models longitudinally.