Comparison of the efficacy of different periodic periodontal scaling protocols for oral hygiene in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances: A prospective cohort study

Introduction: The purpose of this reseach was to compare the effects of different periodic periodontal scaling protocols on the periodontal health of adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances by assessing the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in gingival crevicular fluid and periodontal clinical indexes in a prospective cohort study. Methods: Forty-eight adolescents were divided into 3 groups according to the interval of periodontal scaling (group A: once a month; group B: once every 3 months; group C: once every 6 months). The AST and ALP levels in the gingival crevicular fluid were measured before orthodontic treatment (T-0) and at 1 (T-1), 3 (T-2), 6 (T-3), and 9 (T-4) months during orthodontic treatment. Periodontal clinical indexes (plaque index [PI], gingival index [GI], and probing depth) were also assessed. Results: At T-2, significantly lower AST and ALP levels were observed in group A than in groups B and C (P<0.05). At T-3 and T-4, lower AST and ALP levels were detected in groups A and B than in group C (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the A and B groups at T-4 (P>0.05). At T-2, the PI and GI were increased in groups B and C compared with group A, and at T-3 and T-4, significantly lower PI and GI values were observed in groups A and B than in group C (P<0.05). Conclusions: Periodontal scaling promotes the oral hygiene of adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, and periodontal scaling protocols administered monthly and once every 3 months are better for controlling periodontal health than treatments administered once every 6 months.