Caries outcomes after orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances: a longitudinal prospective study.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between orthodontic and the development of dental caries in the same patients who received single jaw orthodontic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS A consecutive sample consisted of 60 subjects who required single upper jaw orthodontic were recruited consecutively from the Department of Orthodontic at the Stomatology Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. The dental examinations were routinely carried out by one dentists at the following stages: pre-treatment (T1); post-treatment (T2); more than 7 years after T1 (T3). The DMFS count which reflect the caries experience was recorded. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the treated groups and untreated groups for the DMFS before received fixed orthodontic treatment. The same result was found after orthodontic treatment. However, the average number of DMFS in the treatment jaw after fixed orthodontic treatment was lower than in the without treatment jaw after long-term follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Fixed orthodontic appliances significant decrease the patients caries risk after orthodontic treatment.