{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.033816425120772944, 'fraction_numerical': 0.015873015873015872, 'mean_word_length': 5.170212765957447, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Longitudinal assessment of periodontal status in patients with nickel allergy treated with conventional and nickel-free braces.

OBJECTIVE
To perform a longitudinal comparison of periodontal status in allergic individuals treated with conventional and nickel-free braces.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-two individuals allergic to nickel were randomly divided into two groups: those receiving conventional braces (n  =  21) and those receiving nickel-free braces (n  =  21). Periodontal status (gingival hyperplasia, change in color and bleeding) was assessed before treatment (T0) and at 3-month intervals for 12 months (T1, T2, T3, and T4), using the Löe Index. Evaluations were performed blindly by a single, calibrated examiner, followed by prophylaxis and orientations regarding oral hygiene. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test for comparisons of the gingival index between groups and Friedman's test for successive comparisons between sessions in the same group (P ≤ .05).


RESULTS
Periodontal status did not differ between groups in the initial 9 months of treatment, whereas significant differences were found at T3 and T4 (.039 and .047, respectively). Individuals wearing conventional appliances had higher mean gingival index scores than those wearing nickel-free braces.


CONCLUSION
Individuals with an allergy to nickel exhibit better periodontal health when treated with nickel-free braces than with conventional braces.