MONITORING OF PERIODONTAL RISK INDICATORS DURING TREATMENT WITH FIXEDORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES

Аннотация

Background. Fixed orthodontic appliances are widely used for the correction of dentofacial anomalies;
however, their presence in the oral cavity creates additional plaque-retentive areas and increases the risk of
inflammatory periodontal diseases, particularly during the early stages of treatment.
Aim. To assess the dynamic changes in periodontal risk indicators in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment
with fixed appliances.
Materials and Methods. A prospective observational study included 88 patients aged 16–34 years receiving
orthodontic treatment with fixed bracket systems. Oral hygiene status was evaluated using the Simplified Oral
Hygiene Index (OHI-S), and gingival inflammation was assessed using the Gingival Index (GI). Measurements
were performed before appliance placement and at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment initiation. Descriptive
statistics and paired comparisons were applied to analyze changes over time, with statistical significance set
at p < 0.05.
Results. Four weeks after bracket placement, a significant deterioration in oral hygiene and gingival condition
was observed, with OHI-S increasing from 1.26 ± 0.22 to 2.34 ± 0.36 and GI increasing from 0.61 ± 0.15 to
1.56 ± 0.27. After implementation of preventive and hygienic interventions, both indices significantly
improved by week 8, with OHI-S decreasing to 1.11 ± 0.19 and GI to 0.64 ± 0.16, indicating effective control
of inflammatory changes.
Conclusion. Regular monitoring of periodontal risk indicators during orthodontic treatment with fixed
appliances enables early detection of inflammatory changes and supports effective prevention of periodontal
complications through timely preventive interventions.