Assessment of Pocket Depth Changes in Treatment with Arch Bars: A Prospective Clinical Study

It is suggested that arch bars act as plaque-retentive ligatures and therefore exert effects on periodontal tissues health. The aim of the present study was to assess pocket probing depth prior to placing arch bars and following their removal.

Pocket probing depths were studied in the subjects who had arch bars for one month due to condylar fracture. Pocket depths were measured before placing arch bars, one month and 12 months after removing them. The mean of pocket depth was measured for each tooth. Periodontal probing depth was measured in six sites of each tooth .The mean pocket depth was calculated by the division of the sum of the pocket depths by the number of teeth for anterior and the posterior teeth in all subjects.

Eleven males and nine females were included in this study. No significant pocket depth differences was detected among the anterior and posterior of the mandible and maxilla before and after placing the arch bars. Results demonstrated a significant pocket depth increase in the anterior and posterior of both jaws one month following removal of the arch bars .The pocket depths were decreased following 12 months which were indicative of relative improvement at the sites.

Arch bars can affect periodontium and pocket depths increased one month after releasing the arch bars. However, a significant improvement was detected following 12 months that suggested a partial reversible change in the pocket depths.