A retentive system for intra-oral fluoride release during orthodontic treatment

The aim of this study was to test a particular type of intra-oral fluoride releasing device (IFRD), designed to release 0.04 mg/day of fluoride over a period of 6 months, using customized holders, in patients receiving orthod ontic treatment. Discomfort, holder detachment, plaque accumulation near the device, and the presence of gingivitis, bleeding, white spot lesions, and/or decay was rec orded in 76 orthodontic patients (53 experimental and 23 controls) before a nd after wearing the device for 12 months. The system proved to be easy and quick to use, and did not cause discomfort . There were no significant differences between the treated and the control groups for plaque index, bleeding, or the presence of gingivitis. In addit ion, no carious and/or white spot lesions occurred during the duration of t his study in the test group.