Patient noncompliance refers to nonadherence
(or only partial adherence) to health-related
behaviors and is a problem for medical care
and dental care alike. Noncompliance affects
outcomes across all disciplines, including restorative,
periodontal and orthodontic care.
Noncompliance may be the result of internal
factors (the “self”) or external factors. Interventions
that may help address these internal and
external factors include patient communication
and education, behavioral modification programs,
psychological help and selected therapies.
While behavioral interventions are helpful
in improving compliance, it is also important
to remove as many obstacles to patient care as
possible, with the objective of improving compliance.
Enhancing home care and treatment
options is helpful for patient compliance.