2005 – VOLUME 34 – Issue 1

It is known that orthodontic brackets increase bacterium plaque retention making it more difficult for the patient to remove it. Thus, orthodontists instructions on teeth brushing, as well as motivating patients to keep teeth clean is very important. The purpose of this research is to evaluate how well patients using braces brushed their teeth, comparing two experimental groups. One group would learn a specific technique and the other one would brush their teeth in any way they were used to, for at least three minutes. Both groups were compared, for plaque retention, before and after the procedure. This procedure was repeated after one week to check if it was possible for patients to assimilate the technique in only one demonstration, and thus define which situation had the best results. For this, thirty patients undergoing orthodontic treatment were selected and divided into two groups : time group and technique group. The oral hygiene was evaluated by means of a plaque evidence procedure, and for each side of the tooth a number to indicate the plaque percentage was used. The results were statistically compared. The conclusions were that the technique was more effective on the first evaluation but the second one showed that only one demonstration was not enough for the patients to assimilate it.