Introduction
carious lesions, gingivitis, young orthodontic, enamel decalcification, orthodontic, teeth [In orthodontic
PERIODONTAL DISEASE, GINGIVITIS
Recent studies have shown that interdental cleaning in a high frequency (4 to 7 times per week) is associated with less carious lesions, less periodontal disease, and a lower number of missing teeth [In orthodontic patients, fixed braces promote supra- and subgingival accumulation of biofilm by impeding oral hygiene resulting in an altered oral microbiome, enamel decalcification, and gingivitis [In the predominantly young orthodontic patients, interdental spaces are often too narrow to use interdental brushes and flossing is challenging and time-consuming. There is a wide range of interdental cleaning devices, which should facilitate the process of interdental cleaning, since impracticability is seen as an important cause for incompliance. Oral irrigators are easy to use even in the presence of orthodontic braces and are therefore favored by many patients [Since experience shows that effective oral hygiene with fixed orthodontic appliances is time-consuming and tedious, we aim to find simpler mechanical devices for interdental cleaning. The objective of the present randomized and single-blinded cross-over study was to compare the cleansing efficacy of microburst technology with that of dental flossing in orthodontic patients with fixed braces after 4 weeks of home-use. The null hypothesis states no difference between the two methods.