Knowledge and Awareness of the Orthodontic Retention Protocol Among a Group of Yemeni Dentists in Sana'a City

Abstract

One of the primary goals of orthodontic care is to achieve and keep a stable tooth position after the correction of the teeth. This study assessed the knowledge and awareness of orthodontic retention protocols among a group of Yemeni dentists practicing in Sana'a City. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 general Yemeni dentists in Sana'a, using a structured, validated questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed via seven single-choice questions (acceptable threshold ≥3.5/7), while awareness was evaluated using four dichotomous items (acceptable threshold ≥2/4). Descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and chi-square tests were employed for analysis. The mean knowledge score (2.81±1.25) was significantly below the acceptable threshold (p<0.001), with 69.5% of participants demonstrating poor knowledge. Conversely, the mean awareness score (2.74±1.11) significantly exceeded the acceptable threshold (p<0.001), with 62.25% showing good awareness. Significant associations were observed between knowledge and type of dental practice (p=0.005), prior orthodontic treatment experience (p=0.014), retention provision (p=0.011), and knowledge sources (p=0.039). Awareness was significantly associated with gender (p=0.014), orthodontic treatment experience (p=0.004), and retention provision (p=0.022). Most dentists (82.3%) desired further education, yet communication with orthodontists lacked structured guidance (44.0% received no specific instructions). Yemeni dentists demonstrate poor theoretical knowledge but good practical awareness of orthodontic retention protocols. Targeted educational programs for general dentists and standardized clinical guidelines for orthodontic retention are urgently needed to improve long-term orthodontic outcomes in Yemen.