1 research outputs found
Effects of Fixed and Removable Space Maintainers on Plaque Accumulation, Periodontal Health, Candidal and Enterococcus Faecalis Carriage
Objective: To evaluate the effects of space maintainers on plaque
accumulation, periodontal health and oral microflora. Subjects and
Methods: The study participants comprised 38 patients aged 4-10 years
requiring either fixed or removable space maintainers. Plaque index,
gingival index, bleeding on probing index, candidal colonization and
Enterococcus faecalis were recorded just before the application of space
maintainers (T0) and during treatment at the 1st (T1), 3rd (T2) and 6th
(T3) month. Results: The gingival and bleeding on probing index scores
increased significantly (gingival index from 0.20 +/- 0254 to 0.54 +/-
0417 and bleeding on probing index from 7.18 +/- 9.946 to 18.07 +/-
14.074) in the regions with fixed space maintainers at T3 (p < 0.01).
The mean Candida counts also increased (for removable appliances from
1.90 +/- 3.638 to 1.98 +/- 3.318, p < 0.05, and for fixed appliances
from 4.25 +/- 4.587 to 4.52 +/- 4.431, p < 0.001). The salivary E.
faecalis counts at T3 also increased significantly with the use of fixed
and removable appliances (for removable appliances from 5.93 +/- 2.65 to
85.53 +/- 34.1 and for fixed appliances from 4.95 +/- 2.94 to 123.59 +/-
29.51, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the plaque
(r = 0.67), gingival (r = 0.76) and bleeding on probing index scores (r
= 0.76) and the candidal colonization for the fixed space maintainers (p
< 0.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, both fixed and removable
space maintainers led to an increase in the number of microorganisms in
the oral cavity as well as to increases in the periodontal index scores.
Patients should be informed that space maintainers may serve as a source
of infection and that special attention must be given to their oral
hygiene. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Base