ABSTRACT
Objectives @#The purposes of this study were to evaluate the long-term mechanical property, bacteria-killing ability, protein resistance and cytotoxicity of a novel antibacterial methyl methacrylate (MMA) resin. @*Methods @#The 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) has been added into the MMA used for making Hawley orthodontic retener according to the mass percentage 0% (control group), 1.5%, 2.25%, 3%, 4.5% and 6%. Specimens from the control group and MPC group were water-aged for 1 d, 90 d and 180 d, and then the universal material testing machine was used to investigate the long-term mechanical properties of the modified MMA specimens in the oral environment. The biofilm metabolic activity, colony-forming unit (CFU) and live/dead staining assay of the biofilms in the control group and MPC group in the oral environment were tested using the dental plaque biofilm model. The micro-bicinchoninic acid (BCA) method was used to determine the amount of protein adsorbed on the specimens. The MTT method was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the control group and MPC group.@*Results @#In the simulated oral environment, the addition of 0% to 3% MPC had no significant effect on the mechanical properties of the MMA specimen (P > 0.05). The control group and the modified MMA specimens with 3%MPC were statistically significant in time and the interaction effects between the two groups (P < 0.05). With increasing intervention time, the mechanical strength of both groups decreased, and the effect of time varied with grouping. The protein adsorption on the surface of the modified MMA material after adding 3% MPC decreased by approximately 80%, the metabolic activity of the biofilm decreased by approximately 50%, and biofilm CFU counts decreased by approximately 70% (P < 0.05) compared with the control. There was no statistically significant difference in time or interaction effects between the two groups. The amount of live green bacteria in the 3% MPC group decreased significantly after 1, 90, and 180 d of water aging. There was no significant difference in cytotoxicity between the control group and the MPC group (P > 0.05). @*Conclusions @#The addition of MPC into the MMA resin did not compromise the mechanical properties of the resin and exhibited long-lasting antibacterial and protein-repellent effects.
ABSTRACT
@#Long-term stability is an important part of orthodontic treatment and wearing a retainer is one of the methods to keep stable after active orthodontic treatment. Transparent film retainer and Hawley retainer are two kinds of retainer usually used in clinical treatment. the previous one is easy to made, comfortable and beautiful to wear, easily damaged. Hawley retainer is relatively complex to made and in a large size. And it is durable and adjustable. However, there are differences between these retainers on the retaining effects in different types of malocclusion. In clinical treatment, according to the type of malocclusion, we choose the appropriate retainer to keep stable occlusal relationship after orthodontic treatment.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study investigated the influence of Hawley retainer and vacuum-formed retainer on the articu-lation of Chinese speech of adult orthodontic patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 20 volunteers were recruited in this randomized controlled trial in accordance with the inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly distributed into two groups, namely, the Hawley retainer group and the vacuum-formed retainer group. Speech performance was evaluated at the following time inter-vals: before wearing retainers (T0), immediately after wearing both upper and lower retainers (T1), 24 h later (T2), 1 week later (T3), and 1 month later (T4). The phonetic parameters were acquired through the use of computer-based voice analysis software Praat version 5.4.21, and the final data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both retainers can influence the phonetic parameters of vowels /e/, /i/, and /ü/ and consonants /s/, /f/, /x/, /t/, /j/, and /q/. However, the Hawley retainer showed a more remarkable effect on the articulation of Chinese speech, and the distortion of /i/, /ü/, and /s/ sounds can last for more than 1 month. Nevertheless, the recovery period of the patients' phonetic function in the vacuum-formed retainer group was within 1 month.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both retainers can induce distortion of some Chinese vowels and consonants in the speech of adult orthodontic patients, but the Hawley retainer can more significantly influence the articulation of Chinese speech than vacuum-formed retainer. .</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Orthodontic Appliance Design , Orthodontic Retainers , Speech , VacuumABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate retention practices commonly employed by orthodontists. The objectives were to identify the types of retainer frequently used and to investigate the variations in retention practice. METHODS: A total of 97 orthodontists were randomly selected, and a questionnaire consisting of 25 multiple-choice questions sent to them by mail. Upon receiving of the completed questionnaires, the data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 32 responses were received; among these, 59.4% of orthodontists' practiced is in a government setting and 40.6% were in private practice. A vacuum-formed retainer was the most commonly used removable retainer for both maxillary (46.9%) and mandibular (46.9%) arches, followed by a Hawley retainer (maxilla, 43.8%; mandible, 37.5%), and a fixed retainer (maxilla, 3.1%; mandible, 9.4%). Of the responding orthodontists, 78.1% prescribed full-time wear (more than 20 h per day) for a duration of 3-9 months for a maxillary arch, compared to 71.9% for the mandibular arch. Only 18.8% of the orthodontists prescribed part-time wear of the retainer for the maxillary arch, compared to 21.9% for the mandibular arch. The majority of orthodontists did not instruct their patients to stop wearing removable retainers (71.9%) or fixed retainers (66.8%) at any specific time and they preferred their patients to continue wearing retainers. CONCLUSIONS: Vacuum-formed retainers are the most commonly used retainers among orthodontists. The majority of orthodontists prescribed full-time wear for more than 20 h per day with a duration of 3-9 months and preferred indefinite use of the retainer.