Oral hygiene in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

Introduction. The theme of a healthy lifestyle remains relevant at the present time. The function of the dentofacial system is an integral and important component of human health in general, is responsible for speech formation, respiration and nutrition. The goal of orthodontic treatment is to preserve the health of one’s own teeth, to establish the correct function of the masticatory apparatus, to create a smile aesthetics, to exclude or facilitate other dental procedures without resorting to more invasive methods of treatment. Orthodontic treatment directly affects the quality of human life, so it is important to understand the need for its timely implementation. A large number of people seek orthodontic care in connection with raising awareness among the population and its availability.
Results. The fast pace of development of dentistry and modern technologies allow us to correct both congenital and acquired defects of the dentition. For the adult population, one of the main means of orthodontic treatment is a fixed orthodontic technique, in the form of a bracket system. The average duration of treatment with this method is 1.5-2 years. But already in the first month, the orthodontist dentist observes the presence of plaque in his patients, which occurs due to insufficient oral hygiene.
Conclusion. Studies have shown that a low level of hygiene entails the growth of carious and periodontopathogenic microflora, as a result of which irreversible changes occur on the surface of the teeth, leading to enamel demineralization and hypersensitivity, the occurrence of gingivitis and periodontitis. These changes, or the risk of their occurrence, force the dentist to prematurely remove orthodontic equipment without achieving the desired result. An analysis of the causes of this problem and the coverage of research results indicate the need to improve the methodology of individual oral hygiene in order to avoid the side effects of orthodontic treatment.