Comparative Evaluation of Durability and Hygiene Between Multistrand Round Dead Soft and 8-Braid Flat Dead Soft Stainless Steel Retainer Wire

Abstract

The present study aims at evaluation and comparison of durability and hygiene between 2 different lingual retainer wires bonded between premolar to premolar, that is, maxillary or mandibular arch in the same patient. Eighty retainer wires were placed in 40 patients. They were assigned to 2 groups and subjected to 2 different types of retainer wires (multistrand round and 8-braid flat). The mean durability of multistrand round retainer wire (235.7 ± 67.28 days) was more than 8-braid flat retainer wire (153.5 ± 43.85 days) irrespective of arches to which they were bonded, which was statistically significant. Scores for plaque index, calculus index, and gingival index were found more with 8-braid flat retainers and in lower arch than multistrand round retainer and in upper arch but these are statistically not significant. The mean durability of multistrand round retainer wire was more than 8-braid flat retainer wire. The analysis did not find any statistical significant association for deposition of plaque, calculus, and gingival inflammation between different retainer wires and between arches.