Perio-ortho interrelationship: A Review

It is well established that the patients who undergo orthodontic treatment have a high susceptibility to present plaque accumulation on their teeth because of the presence of brackets, wires and/or other orthodontic elements on the teeth surfaces with which the oral hygiene procedures might be more difficult. The considerable variance of the design and the material characteristics of orthodontic elements may also play an important role in this field. The orthodontic treatment is a double-action procedure, regarding the periodontal tissues, which may be sometimes very meaningful in increasing the periodontal health status, and may be sometimes a harmful procedure which can be followed by several types of periodontal complications, namely: gingival recessions, bone dehiscences, gingival invaginations and/or the formation of gingival pockets. A harmonious cooperation of the periodontist and the orthodontist offers great possibilities for the treatment of various orthodontic-periodontal problems. The present discussion focused on the effects of a combined periodontal and orthodontic treatment on the periodontal health and dentofacial aesthetics, and the mode that each field can contribute to optimize treatment of combined orthodontic-periodontal clinical problems