Perception, awareness, and practice among patients seeking orthodontic treatment toward maintenance of periodontal health and factors affecting the same among patients visiting dental clinics in Patna

BACKGROUND: During the orthodontic treatment, maintenance of periodontal health is of utmost importance; hence, this study was conducted to explore the perception and awareness of patients seeking orthodontic treatment toward maintenance of periodontal health and factors affecting the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire study conducted among134 patients seeking orthodontic treatment from 16 private clinics in Patna. The study was conducted in the month of June 2019. The city was divided into four directions east, west, north, and south and four clinics were selected from each directions randomly. A close-ended questionnaire was prepared consists of demographic details and questions regarding their perception, awareness, and practice to maintain periodontal health from the start of orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Majority of study participants {74 (55.22%)} were between the age group of 11 and 15 years. Among all study participants, females {81 (60.45%)} were more than males. It was determined that 112 (83.58%) of patients were using tooth brush and tooth paste/powder for cleaning teeth. There was moderate awareness, negative perception, and fair practice of majority of study participants seeking orthodontic treatment toward maintenance of periodontal health. Awareness of study participants was significantly (P-value ≤ 0.05*) associated with practice. CONCLUSION: There was moderate awareness, negative perception, and fair practice of majority of study participants seeking orthodontic treatment toward maintenance of periodontal health. Education of study participants was significantly associated with awareness and practice regarding maintenance of periodontal health. There is further need to educate the orthodontic patients toward maintenance of periodontal health.