Efficacy of ultrasonic, electric and manual toothbrushes in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

Objective: This crossover study compared the efficacy of an ultrasonic toothbrush for the reduction of plaque, gingival inflammation, and levels of Streptococcus mutans, in relation to an electric and a manual toothbrush. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with orthodontic appliances were divided into three groups. All patients were evaluated by a periodontist and samples of saliva were collected for quantification of S mutans. The patients received their first brushes with appropriate instructions. For each crossover leg, patients used each toothbrush for a period of 30 days. At the end of each washout period, participants received a periodontal evaluation and new samples of saliva were collected. After 15 days of using their own toothbrushes, patients received the next toothbrushes in the experimental sequence. Results: The ultrasonic brush group presented significant improvement in the reduction of visible plaque on the buccal surfaces (-6.36%, P = .007). The counts of S mutans decreased in the electric (2.04 × 105 to 1.36 × 105 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) and ultrasonic (2.98 × 105 to 1.84 × 105 CFU/mL) groups. There were no statistical differences among the three brushes for the clinical and microbiological parameters evaluated. Conclusions: This study did not demonstrate that the ultrasonic toothbrush was better in reducing gingival inflammation in adolescent orthodontic patients, but plaque scores were lowered on buccal surfaces of teeth with orthodontic brackets. In addition, S mutans counts were markedly decreased in the electric and ultrasonic groups, which should be related to a reduced risk of oral disease. © 2006 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.

Candida spp. adherence to oral epithelial cells and levels of IgA in children with orthodontic appliances

Adhesion and colonization of the oral cavity by Candida albicans is an initial step in candidosis. Orthodontic and other oral appliances seem to favor candidal presence. The aim of this work was to compare the presence of Candida species in saliva, their adherence to oral epithelial cells, and the levels of anti-C. albicans IgA in children with or without orthodontic appliances. This study included 30 children 5 to 12 years old (9.1 ± 1.7 years old) who were users of removable orthodontic devices for at least 6 months and 30 control children of similar ages (7.7 ± 1.5 years old). The presence of yeast species in the saliva was evaluated by microbiological methods. Candida species were identified using phenotypic methods. Anti-C. albicans IgA levels in saliva were analyzed by ELISA. The yeasts adhering to oral epithelial cells were assessed by exfoliative cytology. No statistically significant differences were observed for saliva yeast counts and anti-C. albicans IgA levels between the studied groups. Children with orthodontic devices exhibited more yeast cells adhering to oral epithelial cells and a higher percentage of non-albicans species relative to the control group. In conclusion, orthodontic appliances may favor the adherence of Candida to epithelial cells but do not influence the presence of these yeasts in saliva, and the levels of anti-C. albicans IgA do not correlate with yeast adherence or presence of Candida in the oral cavity

Sistema Essix MTM: uma alternativa estética para a movimentação

The increased interest in orthodontics by adults has led companies to develop new treatment alternatives that use less visible and more aesthetic orthodontic appliances. The aesthetic aligners stand out among the treatment options that attend these expectations. This paper presented some relevant aspects of these devices, as well as two cases treated with Essix MTM (Dentsply) system, in which all aesthetic and functional objectives proposed treatment have been achieved. The results of this study support the idea that, when properly indicated, aesthetic aligners are a viable treatment option within the clinical routine of the orthodontist.

Molecular detection of in-vivo microbial contamination of metallic orthodontic brackets by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Orthodontic movement after periodontal regeneration of class II furcation: a pilot study in dogs

Purpose: the effect of orthodontic movement on the periodontal tissues of maxillary second pre-molars, after regenerative treatment for class II furcations, was evaluated in four mongrel dogs.Material and Methods: Class II furcation lesions were created. After 75 days they were treated with bovine bone mineral matrix and guided tissue regeneration with absorbable membrane. After 2 months of daily plaque control, each of the dog's furcation pre-molars was randomly assigned to a test or control group. Orthodontic appliances were placed on both sides of the maxilla using third pre-molars and canines as anchorages. In the test group, bodily orthodontic movement of the second pre-molars was performed in the mesial direction for 3 months while control pre-molars remained unmoved. The dogs were sacrificed for histometric and histologic analyses.Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in total bone and biomaterial areas or linear extension of periodontal regeneration on the radicular surfaces. In the test group, however, there was a tendency to a greater quantity of bone and a lesser quantity of biomaterial.Conclusion: the orthodontic movement was not pre-judicial to the results obtained with the regenerative periodontal treatment.

Clinical and microbiological studies of children and adolescents receiving orthodontic treatment

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of 0.4% stannous fluoride gel on Streptococci mutans in relation to elastomeric rings and steel ligatures in orthodontic patients

Background: Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances often experience an absolute increase in the number of Streptococci mutans colony-forming units (cfu). The aim of this investigation was to study the development of biofilm and S. mutans cfu in connection with stainless steel ligatures and elastomeric rings in orthodontic patients treated with and without 0.4% stannous fluoride gel (SFG). Material: Forty-seven patients were divided into 2 groups: those treated with 0.4% SFG for 4 minutes (experimental) and those without 0.4% SFG (control). In each patient, elastomeric rings were used for ligation on 1 side of the dental arch midline, and stainless steel ligatures were used on the opposite side. Saliva samples were collected before and after appliance placement. At 15 and 30 days after appliance placement, biofilm samples from the stainless steel ligatures and the elastomeric rings were collected and subjected to microbiologic procedures and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Results: The numbers of S. mutans cfu in the saliva and biofilm were not statistically different between the teeth fitted with elastomeric rings and stainless steel ligatures, or between the experimental and control groups. SEM analysis showed biofilm formation on both ligature ties. Conclusions: Topical application of 0.4% SFG in orthodontic patients with elastomeric rings or stainless steel ligatures does not cause a significant decrease in S. mutans cfu in the saliva and biofilm. Copyright © 2005 by the American Association of Orthodontists.

Anticariogenic effect of fluoride-releasing elastomers in orthodontic patients

This in vivo experimental study evaluated the efficacy of fluoride-releasing elastomers in the control of Streptococcus mutans levels in the oral cavity. Forty orthodontic patients were recruited and divided into two groups of 20. Fluoride-releasing elastomeric ligature ties (Fluor-I-Ties, Ortho Arch Co. Inc., USA) were used in the experimental group, and conventional elastomeric ligature ties (D. Morelli, Brazil), in the control group. Two initial samples of saliva were collected at a 14-day interval to determine the number of colony forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans. Immediately after collecting the second sample, fluoride-releasing elastomeric ligature ties were placed in the patients of the experimental group, and conventional ligature ties, in the patients of the control group. Seven, 14 and 28 days after placement of the elastomeric ligature ties, saliva and plaque surrounding the orthodontic appliance were collected for microbiologic analysis. There were no significant differences in the number of Streptococcus mutans CFUs in saliva or plaque in the area surrounding the fluoride-releasing or conventional elastomeric ligature ties. Thus, fluoride-releasing elastomeric ligature ties should not be indicated to reduce the incidence of enamel decalcification in orthodontic patients. Since there was no significant reduction in S. mutans in saliva or plaque, other means of prevention against enamel decalcification should be indicated for these patients.

Composite pontics for orthodontic patients with extraction spaces.

Esthetic orthodontic appliances continue to appeal to more patients, which results in objections to extraction spaces that remain for several months during orthodontic therapy. This has led orthodontists to design temporary pontics that fill extraction sites and that can be reduced as the spaces close. This report describes a simple, efficient, and expeditious technique for making such pontics. © 2010 Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc.

Efeitos da radiação laser Arseneto de Gálio e Alumínio (780nm) no periodonto de sustentação de ratos diabéticos durante movimentação ortodôntica: analises radiográfica e histológica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo comparativo das diferentes densidades de energia do laser arseneto de gálio e alumínio (λ=780) aplicado no periodonto de ratos diabéticos, após movimentação ortodôntica: análises radiográfica e histológica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Longitudinal effect of curcumin-photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy in adolescents during fixed orthodontic treatment: a single-blind randomized clinical trial study

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)