The effects of removable orthodontic appliance hygiene on oral flora

الملخص EN

Back ground : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cleaning removable orthodontic appliances on oral flora.

Material and method : The sample consisted of 60 children aged 8- 14years divided into 4 equal groups (n=15).

The control group, group A : is the group of children with upper removable orthodontic appliance (UROA) cleaned their appliances by brushing with sterile water only, group B : is the group those cleaned their appliances by using cleansing tablets (EFFERVESCENT Cleanser Tablets) and group C : is the group those cleaned their appliances by brushing with toothpaste.

Swab samples were collected from the children using sterile swabs from the foam imprint of the fitting surfaces of the appliances and from the palate, the swab streaked and then incubated aerobically for 24 hours at 37°C, with aid of microscopic examination and different types of biochemical tests reached to the complete identification of microorganisms.

Results : There were 11 different types of microorganisms in group A while only 4 types in group B and C.

The carriage of microorganisms and their percentage were higher in group A than B ; there were significant differences in the percentage of microorganisms between the groups A and B, and between A and C groups.

Conclusions : Cleaning of removable orthodontic appliances with cleansing tablets effectively decreases the carriage of microorganisms.

Using of toothpaste in removable orthodontic appliances cleaning could be accepted but using of cleansing tablets is better.

Removable appliances would not affect oral hygiene adversely if proper hygiene instructions were followed.

This study presents useful information for removable appliance wearers in order to take a good care to their appliances hygiene.