Efficacy of scaling therapy on gum health in patients with fixed orthodontic

Objectives: To enhance periodontal health, several surgical and non-surgical approaches, including scaling, have been employed. Despite its potential benefits, there is a scarcity of research exploring the impact of scaling, a procedure utilized for plaque removal and control, on gum health in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment (FOT). The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the adjunctive role of Scaling therapy on (the improvement of Gum Health parameters among patients undergoing FOT during the period of 6 weeks.
Materials and methods: In this interventional study, 78 patients were randomly assigned to either case or control groups. Oral hygiene techniques were taught to both groups. Periodic scaling was done were performed at three times (1,3 and 6 months) after the orthodontic treatment in the intervention group. Periodontal indices were measured and compared at baseline and all follow-up times between groups. The data were analyzed with the repeated measure test at the significant level of 0.05 in the SPSS software (ver.22).
Results: This study was conducted on 78 patients with a mean age of 21±9 years, including 37 women and 41 men that assigned to two equal groups of 39. The results of the analysis showed that ,the mean of GI and BOP indices increased significantly during the follow-up period of the study in the control group, but a non-significant decrease was obtained in the intervention group. But, the average of PI index decreased significantly during the follow-up period in the intervention group, compared to the control group.
Conclusions: Scaling as an adjunct therapy helps to improve clinical periodontal parameters in patients undergoing FOT.
Clinical implications: The results of this study suggest that scaling therapy may be a beneficial adjunct to orthodontic treatment for maintaining good oral health. Patients with FOT are at increased risk for developing gum disease due to the difficulty of keeping their teeth clean. Scaling therapy can help to remove plaque and calculus buildup, which can reduce inflammation and bleeding. This can help to prevent gum disease and promote overall oral health.