Removable orthodontic appliances: frequency and cleaning agents used by students and recommended by dentists

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and hygiene habits of 13-19 years-old adolescent users of removableorthodontic appliances (ROA) and to determine hygiene methods for the appliances prescribed bydentists, in the city of Pelotas. Methods: The study had two stages. The first stage was a telephoneinterview with dentists. Dentists were interview by telephone calls in order to obtain informationregarding the hygiene methods for cleaning acrylic appliances. Second stage was a cross-sectionalstudy performed with schoolchildren. Children from public and private schools with secondary levelwere included in the sample. A questionnaire was applied to the students using any type of ROA.Questionnaires included demographic information and behavioral characteristics. Data collectedwere subjected to Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of children usingROA was 5.4%. Students (89.7%) and dentists (47.2%) reported to prefer mechanical methods toclean their ROA. Cleaning with soup, hydrogen peroxide or effervescent tabs were less used. Highfrequency of use was associated with higher frequency of hygiene on the ROA. Conclusions: Theprevalence of schoolchildren using removable appliances was low. The common cleaning methodused by children and prescribed by dentists was mechanical. Hygiene frequency was significantlyassociated with the routine of use of the appliance and with the type of hygiene method.

How are children and adolescents cleaning their orthodontic appliances? A cross-sectional study in private schools

AIM: To determine the prevalence and the hygiene methods used by 6-16-year-old private school children and adolescents to clean removable orthodontic appliances (ROA) in the city of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in private schools located in the urban area after the school tutors signed an informed consent form. Questionnaires were applied to children using removable orthodontic appliances. Data regarding hygiene methods of orthodontic appliances were collected. Descriptive analysis was performed. Pearson's chi-square test and Linear Trend with a confidence level of 95% were used for analytical analysis. RESULTS: Children using ROA in private schools were 7.6%. The most frequent hygiene method used was mechanical cleansing with toothbrush and toothpaste (85.6%). Daily cleansing was the frequency most reported by children (51.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Use of ROA in students from private schools was low and the most used hygiene method was brushing with toothpaste.