Periodontal aspects of orthodontic treatment with invisalign® versus fixed appliances in the same patients - A pilot study

Aim: the purpose of this study is to evaluate orthodontic treatment with aligners (top arch) and traditional fixed appliances (lower arch) in relation to oral hygiene and periodontal health. Material and Methods: in this study we selected four patients, all treated by the same operator with an average age of 26 years, but all older than 18 years; we have adopted exclusion factors from research, in relation to the predisposing causes to periodontal disease and to the accumulation of plaque and calculus on dental surfaces. Results: according to the scientific literature, fixed orthodontic appliances predispose to a greater accumulation of plaque and a worsening of periodontal health conditions compared to aligners; in patients who have not maintained good hygiene conditions, there has been a maintenance of the starting conditions at the level of the upper arch, but a noticeable worsening at the lower level, with plaque buildup and increased tissue inflammation. Conclusions: the results also highlighted the importance of individual oral hygiene procedures during orthodontic therapy, which are essential for maintaining good tissue health; the aligners have shown greater respect for periodontal tissues, also inducing an improvement in plaque accumulation levels and reducing gingival inflammation.