Year : 2024

Volume : Volume 16

Issue : Issue 1

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Jaipal Singh Tarkar
drjaipalortho@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted to assess salivary nickel levels in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Materials & methods: 20 patients scheduled to undergo fixed orthodontic treatment were enrolled. Complete demographic details of all the patients were obtained. A comprehensive case history was gathered from 20 participants who underwent treatment with stainless steel fixed orthodontic appliances. The arch wires utilised in this investigation comprised nickel-titanium alloy and stainless steel. Additionally, a control group of 20 patients, matched for age and gender, was established. Saliva samples were collected from all 40 participants at baseline. For the study groups, salivary samples were obtained one week, three months and one-year postinsertion of the appliances. An auto-analyzer was employed to assess the salivary nickel levels. All data were systematically recorded in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and subsequently analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The mean age of the patients of the study group and control group was 20.8 years and 19.1 years, respectively. Mean salivary nickel levels among the study group and control group at baseline were 4.56 ppb and 4.19 ppb, respectively. Non-significant results were obtained while comparing mean salivary nickel levels among study group and control group at baseline. Among the study group, mean salivary nickel levels among baseline, one-week post-insertion, three months post-insertion and one-year post-insertion were 4.56 ppb, 4.23 ppb, 12.93 ppb and 5.18 ppb, respectively. Significant alteration in salivary nickel levels was seen at different time intervals. Conclusion: A significant alteration of salivary nickel levels occurs among patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment