Hygiene status at the end of orthodontic treatment. Comparison of sulcus bleeding index between conventional and self ligating before bonding lingual retention.

Aim
The prevention of relapse of crozding, rotations or spacing in the maxillary and mandibular anterior segments following orthodontic treatment often necessitates long-term retention. Fixd lingual retainers are frequently chosen for this prupose. During the lqst decades, an increasing number of cases are retained with bonded lingual retainers. Studies have indicated acceptable compatability of metal-bonded retainers with periodontal health. The current study was performed to evaluate whetr significant differences in gingival condition exist between patients in need of fixed retainers at the end of orthodontic treatment. Differences in build-up of plaque and calculus were also investigated.
Material and method
Mandibular linguale measurements were taken just before debonding from canine to canine on 30 consecutive treated patients with conventional appliances (Group I) and on 30 consecutive treated patients with self ligatin appliances (Group II). 90 untreated subjects were recruited at a high school and served as control group (group III)> The gingival condition was scored according to 4 parameters: Visual plaque index, modified gingival index, bleeding on probing, and gingival crevicular fluid flow. After staining with erytrozine 0.8%, the plaque index was registered. Additionally bleeding was scored after enamel preparation. The amount of calculus was measured with a calibrated periodontal probe.
Results
With a mean MGI level of .022 the subjects in the control group scored significqnt less gingivql inflammation in comparison with patietns at the end of orthodontic treatment (PConclusion
Orthodontic treatment increased periodontal indices compared to a not treated group. There is a difference of plaue accumulation left/right and a corrlation was found for right handed patients. Within the limits of this study less gingival inflammation was scored at the end of orthodontic treatment with self ligting systems.