Effectiveness of oral hygiene techniques on plaque and gingivitis in patients placed in intermaxillary fixation

Twenty-one patients undergoing reconstructive maxillofacial surgery volunteered to learn and practice specific oral hygiene techniques while in intermaxillary fixation in order to compare the effectiveness of different regimens. Oral irrigation was taught to all subjects; one third of the subjects were also instructed in the use of the sulcus brush, and another third were instructed in the use of the Perio-Aid. Scoring was done every 2 weeks for a 6-week period, with measurements taken of the amount of plaque and the amount of inflammation present in papillary, marginal, and attached gingiva. Results show that the group employing only the Water Pik had less inflammation in the attached gingiva than the group using the Perio-Aid and less plaque accumulation and papillary inflammation than the group using the sulcus brush. While more research is necessary to confirm these results, the simplest home care regimen, use of the Water Pik only, appears to offer the best way for intermaxillary fixation patients to remove plaque and minimize inflammation during convalescence.