Experience of the surgeon affects the success rate of the placement of orthodontic miniplates.

Background: Skeletal Class III patients can be treated with bone anchored maxillary protraction (BAMP) treatment. The placement of miniplates is an invasive operation and needs to be carried out under general anesthesia.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the failure rate of miniplates.

Methods: All the patients who had miniplates placed for BAMP treatment between January 2010 and April 2020 in Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland were included in this study. The patient records were retrospectively screened. The success rate of the placement of orthodontic miniplates was evaluated between surgical residents (Group 1) and consultant surgeons (Group 2).

Materials: The study group consisted of 164 miniplates in 42 patients. The miniplates were divided into two groups, depending on the placement operator. Group 1 consisted of 86 miniplates placed by surgical residents. Group 2 consisted of 78 miniplates placed by consultant surgeons.

Results: In Group 1 (11 females, 14 males) and Group 2 (16 females, 9 males). The overall failure rate of miniplates was 23.8% (n = 39). The failure rate for surgical residents (Group 1) was 31.4% (n = 27) and for consultant surgeons (Group 2), 15.3% (n = 12) (p < 0.05). Out of all the failed miniplates 69.2% (n = 27) were placed by residents and 30.8% (n = 12) by consultants.

Limitations: This retrospective study consisted of a limited number of patients.

Conclusion: The failure rate of miniplates placed by consultant surgeons was lower compared to surgical residents (p < 0.05).