Students from the Orthodontics area within the Faculty attended the event and took an active part in one of the most important international meetings dedicated to clear aligner therapy. As part of the congress, Rosa Postigo, a third-year student on the University Master’s Degree in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, received first prize for the best research paper for her study entitled “Patient compliance as a determining factor in clear aligners treatment success”.

The research explores an area that has received relatively limited attention in the scientific literature: patient adherence as a determining variable in the outcomes of clear aligner treatments. In contrast to the more common topics addressed at this type of congress, Postigo’s work stems directly from clinical experience at the University, raising a key question: why do some treatments not progress as expected? As the student explains, “The answer points to a recurring pattern: patients who do not follow usage guidelines correctly”. Building on this observation, she conducted a systematic review of the literature, identifying a notable lack of studies addressing this issue.

Among the study’s conclusions, Postigo highlights the importance of assessing a patient’s level of commitment before starting treatment, as well as strengthening communication between orthodontist and patient. “The success of clear aligner treatment does not depend solely on the system used, but primarily on the amount of time the aligners are worn each day,” the author emphasises. These devices require consistent daily commitment: wearing them for the prescribed number of hours, removing them only to eat and maintaining proper hygiene. Poor adherence can compromise clinical outcomes, prolong treatment and reduce its effectiveness, whereas consistent use is key to achieving successful results.

Presenting the study at the EAS congress “was a real personal challenge, as it was my first international presentation”, Postigo explains. “However, the extremely positive reception from the experts in attendance, together with the recognition of the award, has encouraged me to continue developing this line of research and to contribute to scientific progress in orthodontics.”