Prediction of cooperation in orthodontic treatment.

A prospective study of patient cooperation with orthodontic treatment was conducted on 100 adolescent patients. Patient, parent, and orthodontist questionnaires were used at three stages of orthodontic treatment. The first was used at the initiation of treatment and the latter two at 6-month intervals. Psychosocial measures from investigators reported in orthodontic patient cooperation literature were screened for use in the present study. These measures included attitudes toward treatment, social desirability, need for approval, and need for achievement. None of the variables selected for this investigation adequately predicted cooperation of a patient in orthodontic treatment. The stepwise regression procedures indicated that inclusion of all variables accounted for 40% of the variability. Variables assessing the orthodontist's perception of orthodontist-patient relationship had the strongest association with patient compliance.