Status quo of plaque removal in adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontics in a ClassIII stomatology hospital in Shanghai

Abstract

Objective To explore the status quo of plaque removal in adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontics in a ClassⅢ stomatology hospital in Shanghai, and to provide a reference for formulating precise oral health education measures and improving patients' health self-management ability. Methods Totally 220 patients undergoing fixed orthodontics in a ClassⅢ stomatology hospital in Shanghai between September and November 2018 were selected by convenient sampling. The plaque disclosing agent was used to stain the plaque. A 5-degree method was used to collect and record the patients' orthodontic plaque index which was calculated according to the plaque area on the dental face. Statistical analysis was employed to analyze the differences in the plaque index between different locations, quadrants, tooth positions, teeth in different shapes and different areas on the dental or lip face in patients with different characteristics. Results The orthodontic plaque index of the 220 patients undergoing fixed orthodontics was (1.58±0.66) , ranging 0.31-3.33. There were statistically significant difference in the plaque index between different locations, quadrants, tooth positions, teeth in differents shapes and different areas on the dental or lip face (F=99.432, 6.552, 3.862, 25.887; P<0.05) . There were statistically significant differences in the plaque index between patients with different gender, age or time of orthodontics (F/t=5.681, 3.159, 2.947; P<0.05) . Compared with the teeth in the other 3 shapes, grinded teeth showed the highest plaque index. The plaque removal effect of mandibular teeth was better than that of maxillary teeth. The plaque removal of lateral incisors and areas under the arch wire on both right and left orthodontic brackets as well as the mesial and distal areas of the gingiva was not satisfactory. Conclusions The plaque removal in adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontics is not satisfactory. Targeted health education should be provided based on the collected orthodontic plaque index. Key words: Stomatology; Orthodontics; Dental plaque; Adolescent; Oral health; Orthodontic plaque index