Wire syndrome (WS) refers to dental displacements that can be described as aberrant, inaccurate, unexplained, or excessive, on teeth still contained by an intact bonded retainer, without detachment or fracture, leading to evolving dental and periodontal, aesthetic and/or functional consequences. The objective of this study was to define the prevalence rate of mandibular WS and the associated risk factors.

Participants were dental students who had undergone orthodontic treatment and were wearing an intact fixed mandibular retainer. They completed a 20-item questionnaire, after which an extraoral and intraoral clinical examination was conducted. Participants were assigned to either the non-wire syndrome group or the wire syndrome group by two independent practitioners. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate potential risk factors.

A total of 59 students (23.4years±1.7years) were included. Among these, 9 students presented with mandibular WS, resulting in a prevalence rate of 15.25% (95% CI: 6.08%–24.43%). Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between a deep labio-mental fold, a concave profile, and a multi-strand round wire, and an excess risk of WS. The odds ratios were 16.5 (95% CI: 1.9–146.8, P=0.01), 6.4 (95% CI: 1.0–41.0, P=0.05), and 9.0 (95% CI: 1.7–48.7, P=0.01), respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed these significant associations, except for the concave profile.

The prevalence rate of wire syndrome was 15.25%. Two risk factors associated with WS were identified: a deep labio-mental fold and a multi-strand round wire retainer.