Treatment outcome in patients with anterior crossbites in the student clinic in Tromsø

The aim of this study was to assess orthodontic treatment outcome and quality of documentation in patients with different types of anterior crossbite, who had received and finished treatment at the student clinic in Tromsø in the period between 2008 and 2010. A total of 34 subjects fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Existing pre and post treatment records from all subjects, was collected and supplemented by recalling of subjects. The definition of the treatment being successful was that positive overjet was achieved in all four incisors. The treatment was successful in 68 % of the patients included in the study, and the treatment tended to be more successful in patients with only single incisors in crossbite. Important determining parameters for the treatment outcome were the duration of active treatment and patient compliance. The treatment success rate was significantly higher in subjects who were treated 8 months or less as compared to subjects who had longer treatments. Our results suggest that 2 out of 3 anterior crossbites were successfully corrected in the student clinic in Tromsø, and longer treatment time seemed to affect the treatment success negatively. The common lack of post-treatment documentation calls for considerable improvement.