Evaluation of the Effect of Treatment with Fixed Lingual Orthodontic Appliances on Oral health care and bacterial Plaque accumulation (Clinical Study)

Abstract

Background & Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of treatment with fixed lingual orthodontic appliances on the effectiveness of oral health care and bacterial plaque accumulation.

Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 19 patients (10 females and 9males) with class 1 malocclusion and moderate crowding of both arches that could be treated on a non-extraction basis. Patient’s ability to control oral health was assessed at 6-time points: Before treatment (T0), 24 hours after treatment (T1), 1 month later (T2), 3 months later (T3), 6 months later (T4), and at the end of the treatment (T5). Plaque index (PI) was also evaluated at 5-time points: Before treatment (T0), 1 month later (T1), 3 months later (T2), 6 months later (T3), and at the end of the treatment (T4).

RESULTS: There was a significant increase of difficulty in performing oral health care after 24 hours and 1 month of treatment in comparison with T0 (P=0.000).  Plaque index degree also increased at all periods of assessment and peaked on the first month following appliance placement (P = 0.000), while at the end of treatment (T5) there were no significant differences in comparison with T0                  (P =0.905).

Conclusions: Using lingual orthodontic appliances is associated with difficulty in tooth brushing and performing the appropriate oral health care during the first month of treatment, and caused a moderate to mild increase in plaque accumulation during treatment.