Prevalence of periodontal diseases in orthodontic patients

Objective: The objective was to investigate the association between orthodontic treatment and periodontitis in a representative sample of Jharkhand. Methodology: The clinical examinations at six sites per tooth were assessed using visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal probing depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL). A manual Williams probe (Neumar, São Paulo, Brazil) was used, except for the VPI. Data analysis was done. Results: The median percentage values of sites positive for VPI, GBI, and BOP were calculated for each group and compared using a Mann–Whitney test and the mean values for PPD and CAL with a Student's t-test. Intragroup comparisons between teeth were performed with Tukey's analysis of variance. The level of significance was set at 5%. Conclusion: The use of orthodontic appliances is not necessarily related to worsening periodontal conditions. The results of the present study reinforce the importance of susceptibility to periodontal disease independent of the presence of a well-known retentive plaque factor, i.e., orthodontic appliances and/or bands.