engleski

Oral mucosal lesions and oral hygiene habits in young orthodontic patients

Aim was to detect prevalence and type of oral mucosal lesions and oral hygiene habits in patients during orthodontic treatment and controls who were not wearers of orthodontic appliances but were referred to orthodontist due to malocclusion. Study comprised 111 young patients. The experimental group involved 60 patients (33 boys and 27 girls) and 51 controls (27 boys and 24 girls). The patients, age ranged between 6 and 18 years, (mean age 13.25 in the experimental group and 11.86 in the control). A complete medical history was obtained and clinical examination performed in all participants. Data was recorded in a questionnaire created for the purpose of this study. Pathologic changes of oral mucosa (inflammation, erosions, contusions, ulcerations and hematomas)detected during clinical examination were evaluated by using clinical tests. Topography of lesions was determined by the WHO scheme.The degree of oral hygiene, gingival and adjacent mucosal inflammation were determined and verified by clinical indices. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb As all the subjects were under 18 years of age, a written consent was obtained from their parents. All data were analyzed by using χ²test. Due to low frequency of observed variables, Fisher’s exact test was used in a certain number of cases. Among all detected lesions inflammation was the most frequent mucosal lesion, which prevale in control group. Better oral hygiene was observed among all subjects of the experimental group but with no statistical difference (p>0.05). There was no statistical significant difference in oral hygiene status in respect to, age, gender, type of dentition and orthodontic appliances. A statistical significant difference was observed with respect to oral hyginee status and inflammation intensity (p<0, 05). The inflammation was the most frequent oral lesion in both groups. The poorer the oral hygiene, the more intesive the inflammation was. Raising the patient’s awareness about oral hygiene and increasing his/her motivation to follow up all given instructions which leads to a successful treatment thus achieving the desired therapeutic effects.

oral mucosal lesions; oral hygiene; orthodontic treatment

DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2010.01743.x