Affiliation:
1. Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
White spot lesions is the most common iatrogenic effect observed post orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to compare the surface characteristics such as morphology, roughness, and antibacterial action of uncoated and coated orthodontic brackets. 1
Materials and Methods
Sixty commercially available stainless steel brackets were coated with TiO2 nanotubes and methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine (MPC). The surface roughness was assessed with AFM and surface topography using SEM. Streptococcus mutans was selected to test the antibacterial ability of the orthodontic brackets. Measurement of total bacterial adhesion was performed using the optical density (OD) method. Bacterial viability was assessed by counting colony forming units (CFU). The brackets were subjected to SEM to detect the biofilm. 2
Results
The computed results indicate that surface roughness was the greatest in uncoated orthodontic brackets. TiO2NT-coated brackets exhibited the least surface roughness, followed by TiO2 NT + MPC- and MPC-coated brackets. The OD values were highest in uncoated orthodontic brackets with TiO2 NT + MPC having the lowest OD values. Comparison of colony counts showed the highest counts in uncoated orthodontic brackets and the lowest counts in the TiO2 NT + MPC group. A positive correlation between surface roughness and colony counts was obtained but was not statistically significant.
Conclusions
The coated orthodontic brackets exhibited less surface roughness than the uncoated orthodontic brackets. TiO2 NT+MPC-coated orthodontic brackets showed the best antibacterial properties.
Clinical Relevance:
Coated orthodontic brackets prevent adhesion of streptococcus mutans onto its surface and reduces plaque accumulation around the brackets thereby reducing the formation of white spot lesions post orthodontic treatment.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC