Single-blind randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of an interdental cleaning device in orthodontic patients.

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment may lead to development of gingivitis, probing pocket depth, hyperplastic tissue, decalcification, dental caries and white spot lesions on the coronal surfaces of teeth. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with the following inclusion criteria were enrolled in the present study: fixed orthodontic treatment, age 12-18 years, systemically healthy, no history of periodontal treatment, periodontal health or gingivitis. The following clinical parameters were collected: periodontal screening and recording, plaque control record, and bleeding on probing. Oral hygiene instructions were given and a specifically designed technique for orthodontic patients was suggested. Complete information about the mechanical interdental device were also provided. Means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges for each parameter were collected. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in plaque control record on both sides. The reduction in the experimental group was significantly greater compared to controls after adjusting for baseline values. There was also a statistically significant reduction in bleeding on probing in the experiment group, but not in controls. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of manual toothbrush and mechanical interdental device demonstrated a better plaque control and gingival inflammation levels in orthodontic patients compared to manual brushing alone.

Different corrosive effects on hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and amine fluoride-based mouthwashes on dental titanium brackets: a comparative in vitro study.

Titanium plates treated in vitro with a mouthwash containing amine fluoride (100 ppm F-) and another containing zinc-substituted carbonate-hydroxyapatite have been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to evaluate the modification of the surface roughness induced by treatment with these two different mouthwashes. The treatment with F--based mouthwash produces a roughness characterized by higher peaks and deeper valleys in the streaks on the titanium bracket surface compared with those observed in the reference polished titanium plates. This effect causes a mechanical weakness in the metallic dental implant causing bacterial growth and therefore promotes infection and prosthesis contamination. However, the in vitro treatment with a mouthwash containing zinc-substituted carbonate-hydroxyapatite reduced the surface roughness by filling the streaks with an apatitic phase. This treatment counteracts the surface oxidative process that can affect the mechanical behavior of the titanium dental implant, which inhibits the bacterial growth contaminating prostheses.