How do general dental practitioners perceive and deal with orthodontic bonded retainers?

•General dentists were unaware of unwanted third-order movements caused by bonded retainers. •Approximately 67% are interested in continuing education on orthodontic retention. •Dentists do not believe they well-informed the retention phase their orthodontist peers. •Billing issues limit dentists' desire to supervise retainers long term. Introduction Long-term follow-up and management require a strong collaboration between orthodontists general dental practitioners (GDPs). This study aimed evaluate if Eastern French GDPs aware retainers’ complications side effects willing take part long-term follow-up. Methods Two-hundred eighteen randomly selected invited answer an online questionnaire. The initial sections covered experience with In final sections, asked opinion responsibility for patients wearing fixed mutual communication GDPs. Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics Fisher exact tests. Results Response rate was 32.6% (n = 71). vast majority familiar loose retainers, but only 45.2% repair them. Respondents offering services regular basis more likely insert or broken (P < 0.001). Approximately 18.6% encountered unintentionally active all 6 anterior teeth. For 88.8% GDPs, permanent justified, whereas 90% refused be responsible supervision addition, 67.1% further training retention, 92.9% would appreciate clinical guidelines. Conclusions Knowledge about harmful evaluated as insufficient among surveyed raises that should addressed globally enhancing communication, practitioners’ education, patients’ involvement.