EFFICACY OF TEMPORARY FIXED RETENTION FOLLOWING ...

Sample Demographics
Boley (2007, p 13) suggested that, “Perhaps the best sample in the
literature is one in which every patient was treated in the same manner.” The
orthodontic records obtained for use in this study were submitted by standard
Edgewise practitioners from across the North American continent. With the
submission of cases by multiple practitioners, the influence of individual
practitioner biases and treatment prejudices is diminished. It is the intent of the
research to be based on a representative sample of patients. Practitioners were
told not to cherry-pick their cases when submitting records, and our study, like
all studies, has to rely on the honesty and integrity of those submitting the
records. It is thought that practitioners could not be too discriminatory, because
in reality, there is not a great availability of records at 10 or more years out of
treatment. As in all data collection of this type, you cannot force people to come
in for recall records.
These types of records are more a matter of convenience, opportunity, and
availability rather than premeditated choice. It seems likely that if a patient has
considerable relapse, he or she probably recognizes his own condition, and
might be less likely to return for recall records because of the potential for
embarrassment or anticipated chastising for lack of retainer wear (i.e., the
University of Washington studies where residents had to call and attempt to
recall patients). This factor could add bias into any sample of this type.
Also, as evidenced in the recall records of many studies of this type, the
availability of males is less common than females. This supports the contention
that males are less likely to be compliant following treatment. There is the
supposition that males are less diligent about retainer wear than females.
Edgewise Mechanics
The Edgewise appliance is characterized by not having any tips, slants, or
variations in thickness of the bracket or slot. All slots are 0.022” x 0.028” in
dimension and are placed so that they are at right angles to the long axes of the
teeth. The technique uses both round and rectangular archwires. Elastics and
directionally oriented headgear (high-pull and straight-pull to J-hooks) are
routinely used auxiliaries.
The following description of Edgewise treatment mechanics is as
described by Merrifield (1985) and Sandusky and Gramling (1988). The new
Tweed force system has undergone an evolution as defined by Vaden, Dale, and
Klontz (2000). However, considering that the present patients were treated by
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