A COMPARISON OF NICKEL ION RELEASE IN SALIVA BETWEEN ORTHODONTIC AND NON - ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS

Objective: To compare nickel ion concentration in saliva of candidates whether wearing fixed orthodontic appliances or not presenting for their routine orthodontic assessment. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthodontics, Dental Section, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, from Mar 2017 to Aug 2017. Methodology: All patients presenting to orthodontic department who fulfilled inclusion criteria were included in this study. Sample was collected after rinsing mouth with distilled water for 30 sec, and their saliva was collected after 2 mins. Saliva (5ml) was collected from each subject. The samples were stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days before submitting for analysis of nickel concentration in saliva. Results: The mean age of candidates was 15.95 ± 3.63 years in arch wire group and 17.25 ± 3.91 in control group. There were 5 (25%) males and 15 (75%) females in arch wire group and 4 (20%) males and 16 (80%) females in control group. In this study, mean nickel concentration was 15.83 ± 12.96ng/ml in arch wire group while 10.21 ± 9.56ng/ml in control group. The difference was insignificant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The concertation of nickel was high in arch wire wearers but the difference was observed to be insignificant regarding nickel concentration in saliva whether patients wear arch wire or not