The Effects of Orthodontics on Dental Hygiene Care, Research Paper Example

Outline

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Result/body
4. Conclusion
5. References
6. Acknowledgement

Abstract

Orthodontics is quickly becoming a popular way of improving facial appearance. It is mainly concerned with the study and treatment of improper biting techniques (malocclusions), which may have developed from teeth formation irregularities. Despite the welcomed advancement in dentistry this treatment is not without great disadvantages and side effects. This author discussed the impact of orthodontics on personal hygiene and how the process affects intended outcomes of this reconstruction. It was discovered that orthodontic insertions affect execution of proper dental hygiene.

Introduction

Some common dental conditions requiring orthodontic attention are teeth crowding; deep overbite; open bite; cross bite; under bite or lower jaw protrusion; small chin lips/apart and gummy smile. Generally, it is felt that when one has orthodontics insertion it can damage the gums. Even though specialists in the discipline argue that with adequate personal hygiene it is hardly likely studies have proven otherwise. This research explores three studies, which indicate that orthodontic insertions can affect personal hygiene maintence.

The first study on embraced a research whereby pathogens were discovered in dental plaques of patients wearing these devices. The second one showed where designs and fixtures created difficulty in reaching the gum when traditional tooth cleaning strategies were employed. This third study explored the premise that without orthodontic insertions parts of the gum are difficult to access with traditional tooth devices. This implies that with orthodontic modifications it would be even harder. As such, the proposition for this research is that orthodontic insertions affect execution of proper dental hygiene.

Results/Body

Studies conducted by Lee, Yoo, Kim, Kim, Yoon, Lim, Shin, and Kook (2005) comparing the presence of periodontopathogens in subgingival plaques of gingivitis lesions in adults wearing fixed orthodontic appliances, as opposed to adults who did not wear any detected six species of periodontopathogens in patients wearing orthodontics. There were less pathogens detected ion the gingivitis lesion of patients not wearing orthodontic insertions. Researchers concluded that perhaps the accumulation of more pathogens in clients not wearing orthodontics could be due to difficulty in executing proper hygiene practices (Lee et.al, 2005).

Subsequent studies conducted by Sharma, Lyle, Qaqish, Galustians and, Schuller reiterated that effective self-care is difficult to maintain for people is for people who wear orthodontic insertion due to design of brackets and archwires. These designs carry fixtures, which interrupt access to gums creating complications. Further these researchers acknowledged that these appliances predisposed to plaque formation and attempted to evaluate the use of dental water jet with a specialized tip (orthodontic) on plaque and bleeding in adolescent orthodontic insertion patients (Sharma et.al, 2008 ).

One hundred and six adolescents enrolled in the study. Three groups were tested; one with the new device, dental water jells; the second group applied flossing with a manual tooth brush and the third manual tooth brush only. These adolescents were given specified times daily when to use the devices. There were marked reductions in plaque formations of all groups regardless of the device used. However, flossing and dental water jell were the most effective devices against bleeding and plaque formation, initially, within 2 weeks evaluations, but dental water jell offered a better response after 3rd week into the fourth (Sharma et.al, 2008 ).

This study supported a previous one conducted by Barnes, Russell, Reinhardt, Payne and Lyle (2005) comparing ‘Irrigation to Floss as an Adjunct to Tooth Brushing: Effect on Bleeding, Gingivitis, and Supragingival Plaque.’ These researchers employed a twenty-eight day single- blind randomized clinical trial. It evaluated the efficacy of adding daily oral irrigation techniques to power and manual tooth brushing in comparison to traditional manual tooth brushes and flossing (Barnes et.al, 2005).

There were 105 participants and researchers separated them into three groups. Group 1 used manual tooth brush and floss only; group 11 used manual tooth brushes and dental water jell; group 111 sonic tooth brush and dental water jell. Results revealed that the manual tooth brushes and floss were less effective than sonic tooth brush and irrigation. Group 111 which used the sonic tooth brush in combination with dental jell showed marked improvement in plaque formation (Barnes et.al, 2005).

Conclusion

This research explored the proposition that orthodontic insertions affect execution of proper dental hygiene. Three studies were cited in making an argument in support of this notion. In the first study researchers admitted that orthodontics insertions have a positive relationship to growth of pathogens within the oral cavity, especially, in maintenance of gums integrity. The second supported studies that methods of oral hygiene maintenance influence plaque formation in orthodontic insertions. Plaque formation is a consequence of bacterial invasion within the oral cavity. If there is adequate oral hygiene plaque formation would not occur to the extent of growing pathogens in that cavity.

Thirdly these researchers without using orthodontic insertion clients proved that devices utilized for oral hygiene maintenance can influence plaque formation. It can be concluded that execution of proper hygiene require proper devices for the particular tooth integrity. Orthodontics insertions change that integrity. Hence, it makes oral hygiene execution tedious creating major problems manifested as dental plaque formation and gum disease.

References

Barnes, C. Russell, C. Reinhardt, R. Payne, J., & Lyle, D. (2005) Comparison of irrigation to floss as an adjunct to toothbrushing: effect on bleeding, gingivitis, and supragingival plaque. Journal of Clinical Dentistry 16,71-77.

Lee, M. Yoo, S. Kim, H. Kim, K Yoon, Y. Lim, S. Shin, H., & Kook, J.(2005) Prevalence of putative periodontopathogens in subgingival dental plaques from gingivitis lesions in Korean orthodontic patients. J Microbiol, 43(3), 260-265.

Sharma, N. Lyle, M. Qaqish, G. Galustians, J., & Schuller, R. (2008). Effect of a dental water jet with orthodontic tip on plaque and bleeding in adolescent patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 133,565-

571.

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the assistance offer me by……………..