IADR Abstract Archives
Prevalence of White Spots and Cariogenic Biofilm in Orthodontic Patients
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of white spot lesions (WSLs) in orthodontic patients receiving fixed appliances (FA) at the University of Kentucky, at baseline, 6 and 12 months into treatment.
Methods: One-hundred and eleven participants were enrolled into one of three groups based on the duration of FA; within a month of receiving FA, at least 6 months, or 12 months. Plaque disclosing gel was applied to the facial surfaces of all teeth, excluding molars. Standardizedintra-oral photographs (IOP) were taken for plaque index (PI) and WSL analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to detect significance (P-value < 0.05). Interexaminer reliability was assessed for PI and WSL (Kappa = 0.93 and 0.92).
Results: 79.3% of participants had at least one WSL. On average, 5 teeth were affected with WSL’s per patient. There was no association between participant sex, age, and socioeconomic status and plaque accumulation (PA) or WSL. However, the regression model revealed large statistical association between time since bonding and increased PI (P<.001). Length of treatment in FA was not significantly associated with prevalence of WSL. There was no statistically significant association between WSL and PI.
Conclusions: In this clinical study, the prevalence of WSL was 79.3%, which indicates a higher prevalence for Kentucky residents when compared to the general population in the United States, as stated in the literature. Additionally, there is a clinical association between the severity of PI as time in FA’s increased. Given the high number of lesions found in our patient population, it is therefore of great importance to evaluate oral hygiene status throughout treatment, develop and implement preventive measures to decrease demineralization.
Methods: One-hundred and eleven participants were enrolled into one of three groups based on the duration of FA; within a month of receiving FA, at least 6 months, or 12 months. Plaque disclosing gel was applied to the facial surfaces of all teeth, excluding molars. Standardizedintra-oral photographs (IOP) were taken for plaque index (PI) and WSL analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to detect significance (P-value < 0.05). Interexaminer reliability was assessed for PI and WSL (Kappa = 0.93 and 0.92).
Results: 79.3% of participants had at least one WSL. On average, 5 teeth were affected with WSL’s per patient. There was no association between participant sex, age, and socioeconomic status and plaque accumulation (PA) or WSL. However, the regression model revealed large statistical association between time since bonding and increased PI (P<.001). Length of treatment in FA was not significantly associated with prevalence of WSL. There was no statistically significant association between WSL and PI.
Conclusions: In this clinical study, the prevalence of WSL was 79.3%, which indicates a higher prevalence for Kentucky residents when compared to the general population in the United States, as stated in the literature. Additionally, there is a clinical association between the severity of PI as time in FA’s increased. Given the high number of lesions found in our patient population, it is therefore of great importance to evaluate oral hygiene status throughout treatment, develop and implement preventive measures to decrease demineralization.