Abstract

Objective: For individuals receiving orthodontic treatment, maintaining strict oral hygiene routines is essential to prevent periodontal health from declining. Thus, using the dental neglect scale (DNS) questionnaire, the current study was started to evaluate dental neglect and oral health condition among individuals receiving orthodontic treatment.
Materials and Methods: The 80 patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment were the subject of the current cross-sectional study, which was designed and conducted. Two questionnaires were used in the study; one was a closed-ended one that asked about patients' practises for maintaining oral health, and the other was a DNS that was followed by an assessment of oral hygiene status using the Oral Hygiene Index Simplified. Chi square test was performed to statistically examine the data, with P <0.05 being considered a statistically significant value. The data were then subjected to analysis using SPSS version 20.
Results: According to the current study, 63% of the orthodontic patients were daily brushers, 26% were twice daily brushers, and 11% were three times daily brushers. Only 9% of the respondents reported utilising interdental assistance, while about one-fourth of them used a brush with soft bristles. With a P value of <0.05, the data showed a positive connection between DNS and the oral hygiene index simplified score.
Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, orthodontic patients' reduced frequency of brushing, mouth washing, and eating sticky and hard food can be ascribed to self-neglect.