The Orthodontic Plaque Index: an oral hygiene index for patients with multibracket appliances.

Adhesively bonded, fixed orthodontic appliances--so-called multibracket appliances--on buccal or lingual tooth surfaces can make oral hygiene difficult. This increases the risk of caries and gingivitis, and patients require closely monitored prophylactic care. Oral hygiene indices serve to assess the oral hygiene situation and evaluate oral health status.