Role of Compliance in Oral and Implant Health Maintenance: Significance, Risk Factors and Suggestions

In healthcare, compliance is described as the patient’s attitude or behavior in terms of taking medications, following dietary and pre/post-operative instructions, routine follow-up visits, and/or implementing changes in lifestyle (such as quitting smoking and routine exercise) based upon advice and recommendations from healthcare professionals. “Noncompliance” or “nonadherence” occurs when patients’ attitudes toward advices and recommendations by healthcare providers demonstrate a lack of analogy. Non- or lack of compliance is associated with lower quality of life, poor clinical outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and financial burdens in relation to healthcare. Patient education with respect to oral and systemic health maintenance and importance of routine visits to healthcare providers plays a role in improving patient compliance. Even minor efforts made by patients toward improvements in their health conditions should be acknowledged by healthcare providers; which in turn may further augment patient-compliance. In addition, efforts such as facilitating and offering assistance related to communication (interpreter service) and arraigning transport for patients are additional factors that may boost patient compliance.