Determining the relationship between the application of fixed appliances and periodontal conditions

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between the use of fixed appliances and periodontal conditions during orthodontic treatment. A Historical Cohort study design was used. The treatment group consisted of 30 patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment and 30 patients were used as controls. Both patient groups had no background of trauma resulting from bracket which might affect the gingival status and the control group had no history of previous orthodontic treatment. Periodontal condition of both groups was evaluated and assessed with bleeding index and periodontal hyperplasia. Exact Fisher test was used for statistical analysis. The mean age for the treatment group and the control group was 15.1±1.5 years and 14.7 ± 2.4 years, respectively. Gingival bleeding was 50 and 76.7%, while gingival recession was 3.3 and 0% in control and treatment groups (P<0.3; P<0.9), respectively. 13.3% of gingival hyperplasia was seen in the control group and 46.4% in the treatment group (P<0.005). Fixed appliances for orthodontic treatment increased the potential of gingival bleeding and Hyperplasia.

Key words: Fixed orthodontic appliances, periodontal disease, gingival bleeding, gingival recession, gingival hyperplasia.