Which types of orthodontic treatment are better for a person’s oral health? That’s the question that a team of Italian researchers answered during their recent study, which spanned several months. The study monitored the oral health of patients being treated with Invisalign compared to those using other fixed orthodontic appliances.
The Three Participant Groups
First of all, the researchers collected a group of 77 patients. They split the patients into three groups, with one group using Invisalign, one group using fixed appliances, and a third group as the control group. The team tested its patients’ oral health conditions at the start of treatment, one month into the treatment, and 3 months into the treatment.
Testing Methods
To gauge oral health throughout the study, the researchers tested probing depth, amount of bleeding, plaque index, and other factors. They assessed the amount of biofilm present on the teeth, and they used real-time PCR to check for periodontal pathogens. With the Mann-Whitney test, they could statistically compare the results for each group.
Oral Health Results
According to the study results, the group that wore Invisalign clear aligners throughout the 3-month period showed much better oral health than the others. They had less biofilm mass, fewer pathogens, and healthier gums. The difference was noticeable from the first one-month test and continued to be statistically significant throughout the rest of the study.
The team that conducted the study consisted of Luca Levrini, Alessandro Mangano, Paola Montanari, Silvia Margherini, Alberto Caprioglio, and Gian Marco Abbate. All the researchers concluded that Invisalign is the best treatment option in terms of maintaining a patient’s oral health in the ideal condition.
Cleaning Teeth with Fixed Appliances Vs. Invisalign
With fixed orthodontic appliances, the patient can’t remove them in order to clean hard-to-reach areas of the teeth. Food gets jammed into cracks and crevices and must be dug out of those space after every meal. Plus, flossing can be a challenge for patients, even with the use of special tools.
For an Invisalign user, oral hygiene is a much simpler process. The patient takes out the Invisalign tray every time before eating or drinking anything other than water, so the tray itself remains free of food particles. Before replacing the tray, the user brushes his teeth thoroughly and flosses them. The tray is usually rinsed or cleaned at this time as well.
With all this cleaning and flossing happening three times a day or more, it’s only natural that the Invisalign user’s teeth and gums would be healthier. A positive by-product of the Invisalign method is cleaner teeth.
Invisalign Recommended for Smile Makeovers
Whenever possible, dentists in Singapore should recommend Invisalign for use in each smile makeover. While some patients with severe cases may need other treatments in addition to Invisalign, most patients’ teeth can be corrected with Invisalign technology; and by the end of treatment, their teeth should be cleaner than ever.
Source: PubMed Central, Sept 2015
