Periodontal evaluation of different toothbrushing techniques in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

original article Periodontal evaluation of different toothbrushing techniques in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances Patricia Oehlmeyer Nassar1, Carolina Grando Bombardelli2, Carolina Schmitt Walker3, Karyne Vargas Neves3, Karine Tonet3, Rodolfo Nishimoto Nishi4, Roberto Bombonatti5, Carlos Augusto Nassar6 Introduction: Plaque control is the major consensus during orthodontic treatment to prevent the occurrence of cavities and periodontal inflammation. The mechanic resource of greater effectiveness and frequent use in this control is the oral hygiene. The tooth brushing techniques most used in orthodontic patients are: Ramfjord’s method, Modified Stillman technique and Bass method. Objective: Since control studies evaluating the effectiveness of usual tooth brushing techniques do not show clear advantage, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three brushing methods, through periodontal clinical parameters of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods: Thirty patients were selected, with ages between 14 and 22 years old, with fixed orthodontic appliances. After basic periodontal treatment the following factors were evaluated: 1 – Plaque index and 2 – Gingival index and each patient was randomly included in one of the three selected groups according to the brushing technique: Group 1 – Scrubbing technique; Group 2 – Modified Stillman technique and Group 3 – Bass technique. Patients were evaluated for 9 months. Results: The results showed a significant reduction of clinical parameters by the end of this period, however there was a very significant reduction of Gingival index on group 3 (13.6%) when compared to the other groups. Conclusion: Thus, it can be suggested that the Bass technique can be effective on the reduction of periodontal clinical parameters of Plaque index and Gingival index in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Keywords: Dental plaque. Tooth brushing. Orthodontic appliances. Introdução: o controle de placa bacteriana é o maior consenso durante o tratamento ortodôntico para prevenir a ocorrência de cáries e inflamação periodontal. O recurso mecânico de maior efetividade e uso frequente nesse controle é a higienização bucal. As técnicas de escovação dentária mais usadas por pacientes ortodônticos são: a friccional giratória de Ramfjord, a Stillman modificada e a sulcular de Bass. Objetivo: tendo em vista que estudos de controle avaliando a efetividade das técnicas de escovação mais comuns não demonstraram nenhuma superioridade clara, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a efetividade de três técnicas de escovação, através dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais de pacientes portadores de aparelhos ortodônticos fixos. Métodos: foram selecionados 30 pacientes, com idades entre 14 e 22 anos, portadores de aparelhos ortodônticos fixos. Após o final do tratamento periodontal básico, determinou-se o (1) Índice de Placa e o (2) Índice Gengival, e cada paciente foi incluído, aleatoriamente, em um dos três grupos, selecionados de acordo com a técnica de escovação (Grupo 1 = Técnica de esfregaço; Grupo 2 = Técnica de Stillman Modificada e Grupo 3 = Técnica de Bass). Os pacientes foram avaliados por um período total de 9 meses. Resultados: os resultados mostraram uma diminuição significativa dos parâmetros clínicos ao final desse período, porém houve uma redução muito significativa do Índice Gengival no grupo 3 (13,6%), em comparação aos demais grupos. Conclusão: pode-se sugerir que a Técnica de Bass pode ser efetiva na redução dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais de Índice de Placa e Índice Gengival em pacientes portadores de aparelhos ortodônticos fixos. Palavras-chave: Placa dentária. Escovação dentária. Aparelhos ortodônticos. How to cite this article: Nassar PO, Bombardelli CG, Walker CS, Neves KV, Tonet K, Nishi RN, Bombonatti R, Nassar CA. Periodontal evaluation of different toothbrushing techniques in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Dental Press J Orthod. 2013 Jan-Feb; 18(1):76-80. Adjunct Professor of Periodontology, State University of Western Paraná (UNIOESTE). 2 Student of the Dentistry Specialization Program, UNIOESTE. 3 Graduated in Dentistry, UNIOESTE. 4 Student of the Dentistry Specialization Program, UNIOESTE. 5 Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, UNIOESTE. 6 Adjunct Professor of Periodontology, UNIOESTE. 1 Submitted: January 14, 2010 - Revised and accepted: April 21, 2010 Contact address: Patricia Oehlmeyer Nassar Rua Pernambuco, 593 apto 504, Centro – CEP: 85.810-020 – Cascavel / PR E-mail: » The authors report no commercial, proprietary or financial interest in the products or companies described in this article. © 2013 Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics 76 Dental Press J Orthod. 2013 Jan-Feb; 18(1):76-80 Nassar PO, Bombardelli CG, Walker CS, Neves KV, Tonet K, Nishi RN, Bombonatti R, Nassar CA Studies have proved that in all situations in which the plaque control was supervised and reinforced with long term programs of intensive instructions, there was a reduction on the plaque and gingival indexes and reversal of the pathology; while when elaborated in short term or in a single instruction session, the results were not favorable. It is important to emphasize that patients who uses orthodontic appliances, when well-motivated and oriented, keeps their oral and periodontal health state stable.2,3,9 Therefore, as long as patients obtain an effective motivational program and a long term periodic and supervised mechanic control, admittedly, the orthodontic appliances alone, when well installed, prizing the teeth anatomy and keeping distance from the free gingival margin, does not compromise the anatomic and physiologic integrity of the periodontium.5 introduction Plaque control is the major consensus during orthodontic treatment to prevent the occurrence of cavities and periodontal inflammation. Patients with orthodontic bands and brackets may show greater accumulation of dental plaque, requiring enhanced programs of personal oral hygiene and regular professional prophylaxis.11 The mechanic resource of greater effectiveness and frequent use on plaque control is the oral hygiene, consisting of tooth brushing complemented with the use of dental floss and other supporting means. In orthodontic patients, generally this procedure becomes more complex for the difficulty provided by the appliances. For this reason it demands greater attention from the professional to modify the conventional techniques seeking the best method for the patient.5 The tooth brushing techniques most used in orthodontic patients are: Ramfjord’s method, modified Stillman and Bass method.5 Control studies evaluating the effectiveness of usual brushing techniques do not show clear advantage for any of the methods. It is probable that the scrubbing technique is the most simple and common brushing method. For patients with periodontal disease, the instruction of a sulcular brushing, using vibrating movements t (...truncated)