Periodontal implications of bonded versus removable retainers.

Removable retainers have been used by clinicians since the early years of orthodontic practice. During the last decades, an increasing number of cases are retained with bonded lingual retainers. The current study was performed to evaluate whether significant differences in gingival conditions exist between patients who wear removable or fixed retainers. Differences in build-up of plaque and calculus were also investigated. Maxillary and mandibular measurements were taken at baseline (just before debonding) and 1, 3, and 6 months later, from canine to canine on 36 patients. Among these patients, 22 had fixed retainers, and 14 wore removable retainers. The gingival condition was scored according to three parameters: Modified Gingival Index, bleeding on probing, and gingival crevicular fluid flow. After staining with Diaplac, the Plaque Index was registered. The amount of calculus was measured with a calibrated periodontal probe. Gingival inflammation decreased from baseline throughout the entire period of retention. A comparable limited gingival inflammation was found in the presence of both types of retainers. Slightly more plaque and calculus were present on the lingual surfaces in the fixed retainer group. This did not result in more pronounced gingival inflammation than in the removable retainer group, within the evaluated period.