Oral Hygiene status among patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliance in the Department of Orthodontics in BSMMU

Background: Oral hygiene maintenance is difficult for patients who are receiving fixed orthodontic treatment. Objective: The aim of the study was to find out deterioration of oral hygiene status during treatment of fixed orthodontic appliances in the Department of Orthodontics in BSMMU. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Orthodontics at Bang-  abandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from July 2013 to July 2014. All the patients taking treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances for more than 6 months were included as study population. During treatment in the OPD all the information of the patients’ oral hygiene maintenance like brush-  ing, dental floss use, use of mouthwash, and history of sugar consumption, taking sticky food were recorded.  The  Orthodontic  Plaque  Index  (OPI)  was  calculated  and  recorded.  In  addition  to  that frequency of brushing, type of tooth brush, technique of brushing and inter dental brush were also considered. Result: A total number of 100 patients were studied. Mean OPI was 81.78 (22.97). Mean value of OPI was 86.35 (13.27) among patients who brushed their teeth once a day but it was decreased gradually as the  patients  increased  frequency  of  toothbrush  use  per  day  and  became  85.74  (±26.12)  among  the patients who brushed their teeth thrice a day. Mean value of OPI was 81.98 (±23.27) who did not use dental floss and 75.00 (±7.00) who used dental floss once a day. Mean value of OPI was 84.65 (±23.10) who used inter dental brush irregularly but 35.00 (±0.00) who used it thrice a day. Mean value of OPI was 85.70 (±22.43) who did not use mouth wash whereas it reduced to 46.00 (±0.00) among them who used mouth wash thrice a day.  Conclusion: All the indexes of oral hygiene are increased in patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances in the Department of Orthodontics in BSMMU. Ban J Orthod & Dentofac Orthop, April 2017; Vol-7 (1-2), P.16-19