The association between parent-child relationship and orthodontic compliance with clear aligners among children and adolescents

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to quantitatively and systematically evaluate the association between parent-child relationship (PCR) and orthodontic compliance with clear aligners (CAs) among children and adolescents. METHODS: Children and adolescents aged 6-18 years undergoing orthodontic treatment with CAs were included. Parents completed 3 sections of the questionnaire: the sociodemographic section, the previously established Child-Parent Relationship Scale, and the CA compliance section with 8 self-designed compliance indicators. Spearman correlation coefficients and binary logistic regression were used for comprehensive quantitative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 124 questionnaires were included and analyzed. No significant differences in CA compliance were found across different sociodemographic characteristics (P >0.05). Among compliance indicators, appointment adherence (4.67 ± 0.70) and timely aligner change (4.42 ± 0.83) received the highest scores, whereas chewies usage scored the lowest (3.21 ± 1.14). Higher closeness and lower conflict demonstrated a statistically significant, but relatively weak correlation with a higher mean compliance score (P