Study of Compliance with Dental Appointments Among Patients Receiving Orthodontic Treatment in Anambra State

Orthodontic treatment outcomes are critically dependent on patient compliance with appointment attendance, and identifying reasons for non-compliance in a South East Nigerian orthodontic clinic population informs practice management strategies. This study examined appointment compliance and its determinants among patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment at the dental clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State. A prospective observational study was conducted over 12 months, tracking 180 orthodontic patients. Appointment compliance was calculated as the proportion of kept appointments to scheduled appointments. Patients who missed two or more consecutive appointments were interviewed about reasons for non-compliance. Results showed an overall appointment compliance rate of 62.8 percent. Cost of transportation to the clinic (49.3 percent), school or work commitments (42.1 percent), and long waiting times (37.0 percent) were the most cited reasons for missed appointments. Patients from outside Anambra State showed significantly lower compliance rates. Patients who received appointment reminder SMS messages showed 18.4 percent higher compliance than those without reminders. Female patients showed higher compliance than males. The compliance rate declined significantly in the second year of treatment. Recommendations include implementing an SMS reminder system, offering extended clinic hours to accommodate working patients and students, reducing inter-appointment intervals for high-distance patients, and establishing satellite orthodontic clinics in outlying areas to reduce travel burden.

Keywords: orthodontic compliance, appointment attendance, Anambra State, patient retention, fixed orthodontics