The influence of different types of brackets and efficacy of two chlorhexidine mouthwashes on oral hygiene and the incidence of white spot lesions in adolescents during the orthodontic therapy.

BACKGROUND: To detect the effect of two different types of brackets (ceramic and stainless steel) and investigate the effectiveness of two chlorhexidine mouthwashes 0.2% (CHX) on oral hygiene status and incidence of white spot lesions (WSLs) in adolescents wearing fixed orthodontic appliance.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty subjects (aged 11 to 18 years, mean age 14.5 years) were divided into six equal groups according to brackets type and to different mouthwashes: Group 1: metal brackets and conventional CHX, Group 2: metal brackets and CHX with anti-discoloration system (CHX-ADS), Group 3: ceramic brackets and conventional CHX, Group 4: ceramic brackets and CHX-ADS, Group 5: metal brackets and water correction flavors mouthwash (placebo), Group 6: ceramic brackets and placebo. Four weeks after the placement of fixed orthodontic appliance the subjects were provided with three different mouthwashes for use during the next two weeks. Assessment was carried out according to oral hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S) and WSL index performed: prior to placement of the appliance (baseline), four weeks, six weeks, eighteen weeks, and thirty weeks after the placement. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Group 4 showed reduction in the OHI-S scores when compared to the Group 5 (in the 6(th) week), and Group 6 (in the 6(th) and 18(th) week), which was statistically significant, P<0.05. Group 4 showed decrease in the WSLs scores when compared to the Group 1 (in the 4(th), 6(th), 18(th) and 30(th) week), Group 5 (in the 18(th) and 30(th) week) and Group 6 (in the 6(th), 18(th) and 30(th) week), which was statistically significant, P<0.05.

CONCLUSION: The ceramic brackets and the usage of CHX-ADS resulted in better oral hygiene status and lower incidence of WSLs.