evaluation of histological impacts of three types of orthodontic fixed retainers on periodontium of rabbits

statement of the problem : fixed retainers were developed to maintain incisor alignments after orthodontic treatments. although the effects of fixed retainers on periodontal health are clinically studied, no studies have still evaluated the histological changes in the periodontium after the placement of thefixed retainers. purpose: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of customised retainers on periodontium histologically. materials and method: forty pairs of maxillary and mandibular central incisors of twenty rabbits were randomly divided into four equal groups: the first group was considered as the control and in the second group, fiber reinforced composite (frc), in the third group, 0.014 inch stainless steel (ss) wire and in the fourth group, 0.175 inch multistrand stainless steel (mss) wire were bonded on the labial surfaces of the incisors. after sixty days; animals' periodontium were evaluated histologically. results: the number of bone resorption lacuna in the control group was significantly less than frc and 0.014 ss groups. the periodontal vessel count and their diameter in the control group was significantly lower than the other groups. the pulp vessel count and their diameter in controls were significantly more than the 0.014 ss and the 0.175 mss groups. conclusion: findings of this study suggest that frc fixed retainer might cause detrimental effects on the periodontal ligaments and supporting bone and the 0.014- inch and 0.175- inch fixed retainers can cause hyalinization and possibly the necrosis of the pulp. key words: fixed orthodontic retainers; periodontium; histology; rabbits