Background: Nickel is a primary component of appliances like brackets, bands and wires which are widely used in orthodontic patients. Nickel is the commonest allergen implicated in contact dermatitis. Constant exposure to nickel in the appliances can lead to sensitization and later contact dermatitis at the site. Study was done to identify and comparethe incidence of nickel hypersensitivity between the orthodontic group and the non–orthodontic group. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted in a Dental College and Hospital in Bengaluru, India for a period of 6 months involving subjects aged between 10 – 50 years. There were two groups.  In the orthodontic group, 50 patients who had undergone fixed orthodontic treatment for at least 3 months were selected by purposive sampling. For comparison 50 patients those who had not taken orthodontic treatment in the past were included in the non–orthodontic study group.  Patients in both the groups were subjected to patch test.Results:There were 20(40%) males and 30(60%) females in orthodontic group and22(44%) males and 28 (56%) females non–orthodontic group. Mean age was 20.45 ±5.12 (Mean ± SD) years. The incidence of Nickel hypersensitivity among patients receiving orthodontic treatment was 12%. The incidence in non–orthodontic group was 8% and difference was not statistically significant. (p = 0.4). The incidence of nickel hypersensitivity was more in females (15.5%) when compared to males (2.3%) and the difference is statistically significant ((p=0.01). Conclusion: There is no difference in nickel hypersensitivity between orthodontic and non–orthodontic group.