This case report presents a patient who developed significant caries and demineralisation due to consumption of large quantities of cariogenic drinks while he was wearing an Essix retainer. The risks to dental health during orthodontic retention and the responsibilities of general dental practitioners, orthodontists and patients are highlighted.
MoyersRE.Handbook of Orthodontics for the Student and General Practitioner. 3rd ed. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers; 1973.
3.
ClarkJD, KerrWJ, DavisMH.CASES — clinical audit; scenarios for evaluation and study. Br Dent J.1997;183:108–11.
4.
ReitanK.Clinical and histological observations on tooth movement during and after orthodontic treatment. Am J Orthod.1967;53:721–45.
5.
LittlewoodSJ, MillettDT, DoubledayB, BearnDR, WorthingtonHV.Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2006 Jan 25;(1):CD002283. Review.
6.
ChangHS, WalshLJ, FreerTJ.Enamel demineralisation during orthodontic treatment. Aetiology and prevention. Aust Dent J.1997;42:322–7.
7.
DerksA, KatsarosC, FrenckenJE, van't HofMA, Kuijpers-jagtmanAM.Caries-inhibiting effect of preventative measures during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. A systematic review. Caries Res.2004;38:413–20.
8.
OgaardB, RollaG, ArendsJ.Orthodontic appliances and enamel demineralisation. Part 1 Lesion development. Am J Ortho Dento Orthop.1988:94:68–73.
9.
TravessH, Roberts-HarryD, SandyJ.Orthodontics. Part 6: Risks in orthodontic treatment. Br Dent J.2004;196:71–7.
10.
MitchellL.An Introduction to Orthodontics. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2007.
11.
SheridanJJ, LedouxW, McMinnR.Essix retainers: fabrication and supervision for permanent retention. J Clin Orthod.1993;27:37–45.
