Effectiveness of educational program on fixed orthodontic appliance treatment on patient’s oral hygiene

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether educated dental patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment showing better oral hygiene than dental patients who are not educated. The sample is comprised of 16 orthodontic patients (3 males and 13 females), 11–22 years old chosen randomly among patients at Department of Pedodontics, Orthodontics and Preventive Dentistry of College of Dentistry at Mosul University. The sample is divided equally into 2 groups; the first group was educated concerning fixed orthodontic treatment in relation to oral hygiene and given education and instruction to keep good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. The second group is not educated. Swabs were taken from supra– gingival plaque of facial surface of upper right and lower left central incisors, and upper left and lower right first molar teeth; one before orthodontic treatment and another (4–6 weeks) later and subjected to bacteriological investigation. Qualitative data about oral microorganisms were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. The results indicated that during treatment records for both educated and non–educated groups show significant difference for certain types of microorganisms and at different locations with the educated group scores the least in comparison with non–educated group.