Oral fluoride retention in orthodontic patients with and without fixed appliances after using different fluoridated home-care products

Orthodontic Retainers-A Critical Review

The achievement of aesthetic, functional occlusion should not mark the end of the orthodontic intervention. To prevent relapse, retention needs advance planning, and may vary in duration. This review aims to present and comment on the available means of retention. The ever-popular, passive Hawley-like removable appliances are credible in maintaining the desired occlusion. Modifications are the removable appliance Wrap Around, having the labial archwire extending to the premolars; the translucent retainer, Astics, a unique aesthetic Hawley-type device; and the reinforced removable retainer, which features a metallic grid reinforcing the acrylic base. Vacuum-formed retainers are easy to fabricate and are readily prescribed. By contrast, fixed retainers are made of orthodontic wire and composite resin bonded on the lingual or palatal surfaces of the anterior teeth. Patient-related variables need evaluation to select the appropriate retainer, while patients ought to realize the importance of retention and comply with offered guidance. Overall, the orthodontist is responsible for keeping the patient informed on the properties and the duration of retention, even before starting active orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic Retainers-A Critical Review

The achievement of aesthetic, functional occlusion should not mark the end of the orthodontic intervention. To prevent relapse, retention needs advance planning, and may vary in duration. This review aims to present and comment on the available means of retention. The ever-popular, passive Hawley-like removable appliances are credible in maintaining the desired occlusion. Modifications are the removable appliance Wrap Around, having the labial archwire extending to the premolars; the translucent retainer, Astics, a unique aesthetic Hawley-type device; and the reinforced removable retainer, which features a metallic grid reinforcing the acrylic base. Vacuum-formed retainers are easy to fabricate and are readily prescribed. By contrast, fixed retainers are made of orthodontic wire and composite resin bonded on the lingual or palatal surfaces of the anterior teeth. Patient-related variables need evaluation to select the appropriate retainer, while patients ought to realize the importance of retention and comply with offered guidance. Overall, the orthodontist is responsible for keeping the patient informed on the properties and the duration of retention, even before starting active orthodontic treatment.

Screening of fluoride analysis as a biochemical parameter in the orthodontic treatment using fixed appliances

Saliva is a critical and useful biological fluid necessary for good health and for the appropriate execution of mouth activities. Orthodontic biomaterials have a complex relationship with many components, including the oral environment. Treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances may causes dental caries. As a result, it is necessary to comprehend how orthodontic therapy and various fluoride regimens affect the chances of developing dental cavities as well as individual risk factors. Usage of fluoride will tend to reduce the caries in the patients diagnosed with the fixed orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to screen the biochemical parameter of the fluoride levels in the patients undergone and completed the treatment of orthodontic fixed appliances. In this study, 35 patients have been visited on day 1 as well as day 35 and categorized as T₀ and T₁ groups. Saliva samples were collected and fluoride levels were measured between T₀ and T₁ groups. Using the fluoride kit with the spectrophotometer, fluoride levels were measured. The results confirmed similar fluoride levels between T₀ (26.11 ± 4.86) and T₁ (27.71 ± 4.40) groups. There was no significant association observed in this study (p = 0.56). Fluoride might have no role in the patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Effect of fluoride on tooth erosion around orthodontic brackets

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fluoride in prevention of tooth erosion around orthodontic brackets under erosive challenge. Edgewise brackets were bonded with Transbond™ XT composite on vestibular surface of 40 bovine incisors. The teeth were assigned to 4 groups (n=10): G1: Remineralizing saliva; G2: Erosive challenge; G3: Experimental group submitted to topical application of neutral fluoride gel (2% NaF) before erosive challenge; G4: Experimental group submitted to three daily applications of fluoride dentifrice (PFM 1500 ppmF) during erosive challenge. After 14 days of erosive challenge, direct visual and tactile examination were performed by two calibrated and trained examiners (Kappa = 0.867). The following scores were used: 0 = Intact enamel, 1 = Demineralized enamel without cavity, 2 = Demineralized enamel with cavity, 3 = Remineralized enamel without cavity, 4 = Remineralized enamel with cavity. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were applied to determine erosion levels, establishing a confidence interval of 95% (p<0.05). G2 and G3 presented 100% of score 2, with large cavities, presenting rough and opaque surface. G4 showed 50% of score 3 and 50% of score 4. Considering the studied conditions, it was found a significant difference between G2 and G4 and between G3 and G4 (p<0.01). By contrast to single application of neutral fluoride gel, the high frequency of use of fluoride at low concentration had a great influence during the dynamics of erosion.

The prevalence of approximal caries in patients after fixed orthodontic treatment and in untreated subjects: a retrospective, cross-sectional study on bitewing radiographs

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of approximal carious lesions in patients after fixed multibracket therapy and in subjects without orthodontics on bitewing radiographs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Bitewing radiographs of 104 orthodontically treated patients with fixed multibracket appliances were compared to those of 111 untreated subjects. The individuals in both groups were between 15 and 16.25 years of age when radiographs were taken. The test group with orthodontics was recruited from the archive of the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Zürich. The untreated control group was selected randomly from 16 communities in the Canton of Zürich. The approximal surfaces of the permanent premolars and molars of all subjects were assessed by two calibrated investigators.

RESULTS

The average number of enamel lesions in the test group after fixed orthodontic treatment was lower than in the control group (0.57 vs. 1.85, p < 0.001). The same was found for dentin lesions (0.06 vs. 0.49, p < 0.001). The distribution of lesions was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Fewer approximal carious lesions were detected in the test group after fixed multibracket appliances than in the age-matched control group without orthodontic treatment.