Comparative Prevalence of Oral Parasites in Orthodontic and Non-orthodontic Subjects

Abstract

In recent years, the use of orthodontics has increased, despite the benefits it provides, and the damage caused by orthodontics
cannot be overlooked. In the study current, our aim is to assess the prevalence of oral parasites (Entamoeba gingivalis and
Trichomonas tenax) among individuals who use orthodontic appliances (fixed and mobile) and individuals without
orthodontics as a control group. The study included 103 participants, 53(42 females and 11 males) orthodontics patients, and
50(37 females and 13 males) non-orthodontics participants (control). collected two specimens for each participant, for
microscopic examination. Chi-square and Fisher's tests were performed to detect any association significant between
infection with parasites and orthodontic applications. The results show the rates of infection with these parasites were higher
in orthodontic disease, where the percentage of infection with only E. gingivalis was 37.7% in orthodontic patients, while
32.0% was in control. The rate of infection with only T. tenax was 5.7% in orthodontic patients while the percentage was 4.0%
in the control group. The rates of infection with both parasites (E. gingivalis and T. tenax) were the highest in orthodontic
patients with a percentage of 41.5% and 14.0% in the control group The statistical analysis demonstrated a significant
correlation between infection and the use of orthodontics, with a level of significance at P≤ 0.05. Also, the effect of other
factors on the incidence of oral parasites such as (age, gender, gingivitis, orthodontic type, and dental calcification) was
studied and compared between the two groups. In the study, there is no significant between infection age and sex, and type of
orthodontic. Orthodontic appliances can lead to the accumulation of oral parasites which leads to the development of various
diseases such as periodontal and gingivitis. Therefore, proper oral hygiene practices and regular dental check-ups should be
emphasized during orthodontic treatment to prevent such conditions from emerging.