Cleaning Methods of Removable Orthodontic Appliances

Removable appliances, which are applied during orthodontic treatment, are routinely used for simple tooth movements, functional orthopedic treatment, slow and rapid expansion, retention and space maintainer. however, due to the bulky structure of removable orthodontic appliances and their critical retention areas, they increase the microbial dental plaque and oral pathogenic microorganism accumulation on their own mass and in the oral environment. generally, if the patients, using removable appliances for orthodontic treatment, are not able to provide oral hygiene adequately, oral pathogens may cause intraoral and/or various systemic diseases such as caries and periodontal diseases. therefore, cleaning or disinfection of removable orthodontic appliances is important to prevent or reduce systemic and oral diseases that may arise from oral pathogens. removable appliances can be cleaned mechanically, chemically or both. for a thorough cleaning, debris on removable orthodontic appliances must be removed by mechanical cleaning methods, and then chemical agents must be used. mechanical methods have limitations such as difficulty of application in individuals with motor function restraints, as well as the restriction of some devices to be applied by professionals only. due to the antimicrobial effectiveness of chemical methods, the microorganism accumulation can be prevented in some critical areas, which are inaccessible by mechanical methods on removable orthodontic appliances. various commercially provided and home-use chemicals can be preferred for cleaning and disinfecting removable orthodontic appliances. the aim of this study is to review the chemical methods used in the cleaning of the removable orthodontic appliances.