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

ABSTRACT

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.