title: An Assessment of Oral Hygiene in 7-14-Year-Old Children undergoing Orthodontic Treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study is focused on increased risk of dental plaque accumulation among the children undergoing orthodontic treatment in consideration of individual hygiene and dietary habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted among 91 children aged 7-14 including 47 girls and 44 boys. The main objectives of the study were: API index, plaque pH, DMF index, proper hygiene and dietary habits. Statistical analysis was provided in Microsoft Office Exel spreadsheet and STATISTICA statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average API index among the children wearing removable appliance was 9 (SD = 13), and among children without appliances was 16 (SD = 21). DMF index for patients using appliances was 5 (SD = 3) and for those without appliances was 4 (SD = 2). The average plaque pH was 6 for children with appliances (SD = 0.9) and 6.2 without ones (SD = 0.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients in whom there is a higher risk of dental plaque accumulating, correct oral hygiene supported with regular visits to the dentist is one of the best ways to control dental caries. In the fight against caries the most effective and only approach is to promote awareness of the problem, foster proper hygiene and nutritional habits, as well as educate children from a very young age in how to maintain proper oral hygiene.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Instructor, Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krupińska-Nanys
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zarzecka
keywords: Caries risk; children; hygiene and dietary habits; oral hygiene; orthodontic treatment