Oral hygiene status among orthodontic patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral hygiene status of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.


METHODS
The following indices were used to evaluate the oral hygiene status of patients in orthodontic treatment: gingival bleeding index (GBI), plaque index (PI), and ortho-plaque index (OPI). A self-administrated questionnaire was prepared covering oral hygiene practice, oral hygiene cleaning aids, and number of visits to a dental hygienist.


RESULTS
Fifty patients (15-30 years old) were selected for the study from among the orthodontic patients treated at the King Saud University College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results showed that the PI and OPI were high with mean scores of 65.24 (SD 16.43) and 53.56 (SD 8.74) respectively, while the average GBI was a much lower value at 19.14 (SD 7.95). No significant difference was observed between male and female patients for the PI (p=0.925) and for the OPI (p=0.072), but a significant difference was observed for the GBI at the 5 percent significance level (p=0.033). The result of OPI showed that 20 (40 percent) of the patients had fair oral hygiene, whereas 30 (60 percent) had poor oral hygiene. Only 16 (32 percent) of the participants reported visiting the dental hygienist during their orthodontic treatment, while the remaining 34 (68 percent) did not.


CONCLUSIONS
The oral home care of the orthodontic patients surveyed was not at an optimal level, which indicated the need to establish an oral hygiene maintenance program.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate oral home care among orthodontic patients may make them more prone to develop gingivitis during orthodontic treatment. It is, therefore, essential that oral hygiene instructions and a hygiene maintenance program not be overlooked during orthodontic treatment.
Atassi
Farhad
F
College of Dentistry at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. fatassi@gmail.com
Awartani
Fatin
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D010512:Periodontal Index; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D009067:Mouthwashes