Comparative Evaluation of Antibacterial and Anti-Adherent Properties between Titanium Oxide, Silver Dioxide-Coated, and Conventional Orthodontic Wires Against Streptococcus Sanguis Causing Gingivitis.

Objective: To compare the antibacterial and anti-adherent properties of conventional stainless steel (SS) orthodontic wires and surface-modified silver dioxide-coated and titanium oxide-coated SS orthodontic wires against Streptococcus sanguis causing gingivitis. Materials and Methods: The study used 60 orthodontic SS wire specimens, organized into six groups of ten each. The control group had uncoated wires, and the experimental group featured wires coated with silver dioxide and titanium oxide. Surface modification was done using DC sputtering, and microbiological tests assessed the antibacterial and anti-adherent properties of the AgO2- and TiO2-coated wires. Results: This study demonstrated the antibacterial effect against S. sanguis in orthodontic wires coated with the photocatalytic AgO2 and TiO2 compared to the uncoated wires. Also, this study demonstrated an anti-adherent effect in the AgO2- and TiO2-coated orthodontic wires. Moreover, the bacterial accumulation on orthodontic wires coated with AgO2 and TiO2 was lower compared to that on the uncoated wires. Conclusion: During orthodontic treatment, the formation of dental plaque can be prevented by coating the surface of stainless-steel orthodontic wires with photocatalytic AgO2 and TiO2. Compared to silver dioxide, the titanium oxide-coated SS orthodontic wires showed better antibacterial and anti-adherent properties.

Craniofacial morphology of HIV-infected adolescents undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART): An original research.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the craniofacial morphology in child patients and adolescents by evaluating the skeletal cephalometric profile of the HIV infected patients in this age group and comparing them with the HIV-negative controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a planned case-control study which included 25 HIV-positive adolescent patients aged between 10 and 18 years (the study group) who were compared with 25 age- and sex-matched HIV-negative adolescent controls (the control group). All the patients had been HIV infected via a vertical transmission with positive serology confirmed in two different tests and had been kept on HAART since they were born. The diagnostic aids used for orthodontic documentation included facial photographs, digital orthopantomographs, lateral teleradiographs, and study models. RESULTS: With reference to the methodologies used for taking the cephalometric values, all the methods used were in strong agreement with each other for almost all the variables studied and had high intra-class correlation coefficient values except Co-A, SN.ANSPNS, and SNB which, too, had a good agreement of 60%. Nevertheless, the agreement was positive for these variables, too, since the P values obtained were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the measurements in the HIV-infected adolescents were found to be similar to the ones obtained for the HIV-negative controls, although, the study results highlighted the significance of further studies to be conducted in this regard, especially, the longitudinal study designs wherein the said variables can be studied on a follow-up basis in longitudinal studies to have an idea of the exact changes observed and their pattern in the included groups.

Association of Periodontal Health with Orthodontic Appliances among Indian Patients.

BACKGROUND: To assess the association of periodontal status of the patients with and without orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 520 patients (220 undergoing orthodontic procedure and 300 non-orthodontic patients). Periodontal health status was assessed using community periodontal index and loss of attachment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and level of significance used was 5% level. RESULT: Overall mean number of segments for bleeding component (Score 1) was 0.86 ± 0.708, that of calculus (Score 2) 0.30 ± 0.460, for shallow pockets (4-5 mm) (Score 3) 0.33 ± 0.744 and for deep pockets (6 mm or more) (Score 4) 0.38 ± 0.476. Patients with orthodontic appliances had poor periodontal status than the non-orthodontic patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment have increased the level of periodontal status as it leads to more retention of food debris. Hence, these patients should be motivated to maintain good oral hygiene.