Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Patients with Multibracket Appliance

INTRODUCTION: Plaque is the main etiological factor that leads to the generation and the development of the periodontal disease. The removal of oral plaque in orthodontic patients with multibracket appliances could turn out to be a difficult process because brackets create a surface on which bacteria can easily attach added to the fact that oral hygiene is harder to apply for the patient at home because the brackets represent an obstacle. Scientific researches underline that sonic devices, for example Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean and Philips Sonicare Airfloss, have a higher efficacy on removing oral plaque. Moreover, those appliances are easier to use and less time spending, they also are more efficient on maintaining the good oral health level reached during the professional dental hygiene and improve the compliance with patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study includes 20 patients:12 male and 8 female, age average 21, divided in two homogeneous groups: everyone was well-learned, followed and treated by the same operator. The patients have been treated with two different protocols: P1:manual orthodontic toothbrush 3 times a day, using the Bass method added to the orthodontical interdental floss or interdental brush once a day P2:Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean 3 times a day and Philips Sonicare Airfloss at least once a day we calculated PI and GBI at the first appointment T0, after 30 days T1, after 60 days T2, after 90 days T3. RESULTS: • Plaque index decreased more and more each time in patients treated with P2, compared to the other group that used the first protocol • Plaque index in the second group had a better and constant improvement; the second one had a relapse in between T2 and T3, instead. • GBI decreased for the group of patients that used the second protocol, compared to the group with the first one • GBI of the group with P2 had a better and constant improvement; the second one had a relapse in between T2 and T3. CONCLUSION: • The group treated with P2 showed a lower level of interprossimal plaque than the group with P1, which had a relapse instead. • Philips Sonicare Airfloss are easier to use for the patients at home; for this reason we have a higher compliance level that brings a better results in every single period of time. • Philips Sonicare is more efficient in interprossimal plaque removal compared to floss and interprossimal toothbrush, not well used.