Prevalence of periodontitis in patients using removable orthodontic appliance

Abstract

Removable appliances should be considered as a method of interceptive orthodontic treatment and is mostly used in the mix den-tition period. It basically either resolves the imminent dental problem or diminishes its severity. The relationship between orthodontic procedures and periodontal status is considered a challenge, especially periodontal health during and after orthodontic treat-ment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontitis in patients using removable orthodontic appliances. The study was conducted in a university set up sample consisting of all patients who underwent removable orthodontic treatment from June 2019-April 2020, were examined and included in our data collection. A total of 315 case sheets were reviewed. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. The data was analysed using a chi-square test. It was observed that more number of periodontitis patients belonged to the age group above 30 years followed by 19 to 30 years and this was statistically significant (p-value: 0.000<0.05). Within the limits of the study, it can be concluded that only 1.91% of patients using removable orthodontic appliances, had periodontitis. Further research studies with long-term follow ups in older age groups are required to periodically emphasise the importance of oral health in patients undergoing removable orthodontic treatment in order to maintain a healthy periodontium.