Orthodontist and periodontist’s knowledge, attitudes and aspects of clinical practice, regarding fixed lower orthodontic retainers

• Autor(a) principal: COSTA,Ruth Suzanne Maximo da
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: VEDOVELLO,Silvia Amélia Scudeler, FURLETTI-GÓES,Vivian Fernandes, CUSTODIO,William, VENEZIAN,Giovana Cherubini
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2176-94512021000400303
• topic: Orthodontic retainers; Orthodontics; Periodontics; Dental biofilm; Knowledge

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and aspects of the clinical practice of orthodontists and periodontists, regarding lower fixed orthodontic retainers. Methods: The orthodontists (n=502) and periodontists (n=269) who participated in this cross-sectional observational study received, via e-mail, questions related to the type of lower fixed retainer, dental biofilm accumulation, oral hygiene, and potential periodontal changes. The data were subjected to chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, at 5% significance level. Results: Both orthodontists (72.3%) and periodontists (58.7%) reported that hygienic retainers accumulate more dental biofilm (p< 0.05), and 64.1% of orthodontists and 58.7% of periodontists considered that modified retainers may lead to periodontal changes (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between the dental specialties, regarding the type of lower fixed retainer considered the easiest for the patient to perform hygiene (p> 0.05), whereas 48.6% of professionals chose the modified type. Conclusion: The modified retainer accumulates a greater amount of dental biofilm and, in the perception of orthodontists and periodontists, it may cause periodontal changes.