Self-Reported Changes in Oral Hygiene Habits among Adolescents Receiving Orthodontic Treatment

Abstract

The prevalence of malocclusion and a need for orthodontic treatment is high. Orthodontic appliances increase biofilm accumulation by expanding plaque retention sites. The aim of this study was to investigate the self-reported changes in oral hygiene habits among adolescents receiving orthodontic treatment. A cross-sectional study of 291 patients aged 10–17 years (mean (M) = 12.98; standard deviation (SD) = 2.36) was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics, Lithuanian University of Medical Sciences (LSMU) Hospital (Kaunas, Lithuania) during the fall semester (October–January) of the 2017/2018 study year. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire covered background information, experience of orthodontic treatment, oral hygiene habits and the seeking of professional dental care. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. To establish relationships between categorical variables, Chi-squared tests (χ2) were used. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was set to indicate statistically significant difference. The univariate logistic regression analysis evaluated the probability of an event given a certain risk indicator, including odds ratio (OR) and its confidence interval (95% CI). Associations were found between the usage of auxiliary measures (OR = 1.797 (1.118–2.887), p = 0.015), tongue cleaning (OR = 1.712 (1.059–2.767), p = 0.028), mouth rinsing after meals (OR = 1.707 (1.048–2.781), p = 0.032) and experience of orthodontic treatment, respectively. More orthodontic patients underwent professional oral hygiene regularly than non-orthodontic patients (p = 0.024). More patients with fixed orthodontic appliances reported significantly changed oral hygiene habits, while more orthodontic patients with removable appliances did not change their oral hygiene habits.

<p>Adherence to Dietary Advice and Oral Hygiene Practices Among Orthodontic Patients</p>

“…28,30,33,37 Collectively, the findings showed that the use of interdental tools, such as dental floss and interdental brushes, was significantly higher among the patients under active orthodontic treatment (G2) compared to the control group (G1). Similar findings were described by Petrauskiene et al 24 In contrast, many other studies indicated lower utilization of interdental tools among patients. 28,30,37,42,[44][45][46] During orthodontic treatment, ideal oral hygiene may not be achieved simply by the mechanical removal of dental plaque.…”

“…Previous studies indicated more frequent visits to dental hygienists by orthodontic patients. 24 , 42 In contrast, Atassi and Awartani reported a low frequency of visits to hygienists among orthodontic patients, though there was no control group in their study. 37 The frequency of dental visits in this study also did not differ significantly between the groups.…”

“…However, their study focused mainly on adolescents. 24 The most important step in the mechanical removal of dental plaque is brushing teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes. Proper brushing is vital for ensuring dental and gingival health.…”

“…This distribution of gender is consistent with the literature and with the distribution of patients who attend orthodontic practice and seek orthodontic treatment. 24 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 This might be because females are more concerned about esthetics than males and have a higher demand for orthodontic treatment. 31 , 32 However, some studies reported different patterns of gender distribution, with more males undergoing orthodontic treatment than females.…”

“…Sample size estimation was done using G*Power 3.1.9.2. Considering a previous study by Petrauskiene et al 24 we estimated that at least 368 subjects are required to achieve a power =0.9, at alpha= 0.05, to detect an OR=1.8 between the groups. Data collection was conducted between March and July 2019.…”