Chlorhexidine oral gel containing propolis as a plaque control agent in adult orthodontic patients with fixed appliances

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 0.1% chlorhexidine oral gel, containing Propolis [DG-Care[R]], on orthodontic patients with fixed appliances. Twenty orthodontic patients treated with edgewise appliances selected to participate in this experimental. The patients randomly divided into two groups I and II according to the technique of wire ligature to the brackets, either soft stainless steel wire at group I, or non fluoridated elstomirc ring [o-tie] in group II. The experimental protocol consisted of two weeks of Professional mechanical tooth cleaning [PTC], two weeks of plaque accumulation period and then two weeks of [PTC] in addition of use of DG-Care gel Three times /day. The results were evaluated clinically with plaque index and Gingival Index records at baseline, two weeks, Four weeks and 6 weeks interval. Plaque samples were collected at each experimental period to be examined with Dark-filed microscopy. The results showed improvement of the clinical parameters after PTC period at both groups. After plaque accumulation period, group II showed aggrisive increase in clinical parameters. After use of the chlorhexidine gel there was a great improvement in the clinical parameters, which is more pronounced at group I. The composition of dental plaque showed a significant shifts in both groups after plaque accumulation period. Changes consisted of an increase in the percentage of spirochetes, motile rods, filaments, and fusiforms; conversely, a decrease in cocci was noted. After chlorhexidine period there was an increase in coccoid cells and decrease in spirochetes. In conclusions, orthodontic appliances especially electrometric rings increased the risk for occurrence of periodontal diseases, which is may prevented or decreased with use of locally antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine

Shear bond strength of fluoridated and non-fluoridated orthodontic adhesives

The aim of this study was directed to evaluate the effect of fluoridated orthodontic adhesive on the shear bond strength in comparison to non-fluoridated no-mix adhesive. Three different orthodontic adhesives [no-mix non-fluoridated, glass ionomer and fluoridated no-mix] were used in this study. The samples consisted of 60 freshly extracted premolar teeth divided into three groups according to type of adhesive used. The shear bond strength was measured for each group. From the results of this study it could be conclude that the low shear bond strength of fluoridated composite resin may be related to the high amount of fluoride ion exchange which weaken the resin. The light cure glass ionomer orthodontic adhesive has reasonable shear bond strength to be used as orthodontic adhesive