Abstract

Overview

This research assesses whether using earphones with mobile phones affects nickel ion release from orthodontic appliances differently than using mobile phones alone.

Introduction

The focus is on understanding if earphones can reduce the health risks associated with nickel ion release in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances, typically resulting from mobile phone usage.

Materials and Methods

• Type of Study: Cross-sectional study.
• Participants: 60 individuals undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.
• Setting: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Adhiparasakthi Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India.
• Procedure: Measurement of salivary nickel levels on specific days post-treatment, comparing usage of mobile phones with and without earphones.

Findings

Statistical analysis using paired and independent t-tests revealed that nickel ion release was significantly higher in users of mobile phones without earphones than those using earphones.

Conclusion

The study supports the hypothesis that using earphones while on mobile phones significantly reduces the risk of nickel ion release from orthodontic devices, pointing to a potential method to mitigate health risks.