Effect of oral hygiene education on children with and without subsequent orthodontic treatment

The aim of the present investigation was to study whether an intense period of individual oral hygiene education would result in proper dental health behavior and to compare the effects of such education on 30 individuals undergoing subsequent orthodontic treatment and 30 controls without such treatment. The investigation consisted of two experimental periods: one period of oral hygiene education during which information on proper plaque control was given fortnightly for 6 weeks and one follow-up period of 30 months corresponding to the orthodontic treatment phase. The results suggest that it is possible to achieve and maintain a high standard of dental health behavior following an intense period of individual oral hygiene education. A certain deterioration of the gingival status was observed after 3 months in the orthodontically treated children. This was interpreted as being due to the influence of subgingivally located orthodontic bands. After 30 months a high level of oral hygiene and gingival status as well as a low caries activity were still apparent with only minor and insignificant differences between the children subject to orthodontic treatment and the controls.