Agentes para desinfecção de aparelhos acrílicos ortodônticos: o que os usuários utilizam e o que os dentistas recomendam?

Abstract

Poor hygiene associated with the use of orthodontic appliances in children and adolescents may increase the occurrence of oral diseases associated to, such as caries and gingivitis, turning important the knowledge of the most effective, used and designated cleaning methods for these devices. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of use of removable orthodontic appliances, hygiene methods used by school children and prescribed by dentists of the city of Pelotas/RS, and evaluating variables associated with it. This study was conducted in the city of Pelotas in a sample of schoolchildren aged 13-19 years from 20 schools, 16 public and 4 private. Two questionnaires were conducted to determine some socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics associated with the use of braces and another to determine the cleaning methods indicated by dentists of the city. The questionnaire of children was performed in the schools and the dentists questionnaire was performed through telephone calls. Statistical analysis was descriptive and bivariate, through the Chi-square test, or Fisher Linear Trend, depending on the type of variable exhibitor, with a p-value <0.05 as statistically significant. The frequency of use in schools was 5.4%. Students (89.76%) and dentists (47.21%) reported brushing with toothpaste as the main method of cleaning. In conclusion, the method most widely used and recommended for acrylics hygiene appliances, prescribed by dentists and used by adolescents, was brushing with toothpaste