1 George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, Romania
Introduction: Orthodontic retention is fundamental to prevent tooth relapse after the treatment. Plaque accumulation is a serious concern, affecting periodontal health. In this study, the effects of fixed retainers with removable vacuum formed retainers on plaque accumulation by evaluating the Plaque Indices were compared.
Aim of the study: The aim of the present systematic review is to comprehend which orthodontic retainer between fixed retainers and the removable vacuum formed retainers results in the least amount of plaque accumulation.
Material and Methods: For evaluation a literature review was carried out by all the reviewers by consulting PubMed, ScienceDirect, The Lancet, Sciendo, and Google Scholars electronic databases for biomedical and health literature. The articles were selected from 2017 onwards with the restriction of the English language.
Results: 5 studies were selected, reporting on a total of 249 patients both males and females who after debonding orthodontic appliances followed up with either a fixed or vacuum formed retainer.
Conclusion: Within their limits, the results seem to show that patients who wear Vacuum Formed Retainers tend to accumulate less plaque than the ones that wear Fixed Retainers. However, subsequent studies are required to address this matter and draw a definitive conclusion.
