Smart Functional Appliance - A New Approach to Improve Patient Compliance

Aim To assess the patient compliance to removable functional appliances using TheraMonreg Microsensor.Method The study sample included 15 patients requiring removable functional appliances. Microsensors were incorporated in each of them. After three weeks of appliance delivery microsensor was activated T0 and patients were not informed that they were being monitored. After the activation T0 patients were evaluated at T1 and T2 intervals at three and six week intervals respectively to gain insight into further compliance of the subjects included in the study after they were made aware of the presence of sensor during T1 appointment.Results The mean overall wear time during the aware period of 21 days was significantly higher 239.568plusmn74.79 as compared to the non-aware period 145.03plusmn58.69 and the mean difference was statistically significant P0.001. The overall mean wear time during the aware period of 21 days among female patients was relatively higher compared to male patients. However the mean difference between the gender was not statistically significant P0.25.Conclusion Patients wore the appliance for longer duration during the aware period than the non-aware period. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female patients regarding overall compliance.