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Abstract

Introduction: To determine if patients with fixed orthodontic appliances had better oral hygiene when using an oral irrigation device in addition to a manual toothbrush.
Methodology: Random assignment was used to place participants in either the intervention group (manual toothbrush and oral irrigation device) or the control group (manual toothbrush). At baseline, the plaque index, gingival index, and interdental bleeding index were noted as outcome variables. Three months later, the data was analyzed using the paired sample T-test.
Results: The results indicated that there was a significant reduction in mean plaque, gingival and bleeding indices of subjects in oral irrigator group as compared to control group at p value <0.05%.
Conclusion: When used in conjunction with a manual toothbrush, water irrigation devices significantly reduce bleeding, gingival inflammation, and plaque in orthodontic patients over a period of three weeks (i.e. the next appointment)