Microbiological evaluation in invisible aligner chemical cleaning methods against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of chemical agents in removing Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans biofilm from invisible aligners. METHODS: The samples were made of EX30 Invisalign trays, biofilm was cultured by standardized suspensions of C. albicans ATCC strain and S. mutans clinical strain on the sample. The treatments used were 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) (20 minutes), 1% NaClO (10 minutes), chlorhexidine (5 minutes), peroxide (15 minutes), and orthophosphoric acid (15 seconds). The control group received phosphate-buffered saline for 10 minutes. The colony-forming units per milliliter of each microorganism were determined by serial dilutions seeded in plates with selective culture mediums for each one. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Conover-Iman tests at an α of 0.05. RESULTS: For the C. albicans biofilm group, the control group had 9.7 Log10 of microorganism growth, and all treatment groups had statistically significant biofilm reduction, in which chlorhexidine presented the highest inhibition of 3 Log10, followed by alkaline peroxide and orthophosphoric acid both with 2.6 Log10, 1% NaClO (2.5 Log10), and 0.5% NaClO (2 Log10). As for S. mutans, the control group had 8.9 Log10 of growth, and a total microorganism inhibition was reached by chlorhexidine, 1% NaClO, and orthophosphoric acid, whereas alkaline peroxide inhibited growth to 7.9 Log10 and 0.5% NaClO 5.1 Log10. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations, chlorhexidine and orthophosphoric acid had greater efficacy in both biofilms. In addition, 1% NaClO and alkaline peroxide also had significant effects; therefore, their incorporation aligners disinfection protocols are valid.

Analysis of biofilm formation by Candida albicans in different types of orthodontic fixed appliances and devices / Análise da formação de biofilme por Candida albicans em diferentes tipos de aparelhos e dispositivos ortodônticos fixos

Objective: in this study, biofilm formation by Candida albicans in fixed orthodontic appliances was evaluated. Material and Methods: a total of 300 conventional metal brackets (MC), ceramic (CB), self-ligation (SLB), nickel-titanium (NiTi), and nickel-chromium (NiCr) wires, and ligatures types were organized into thirty groups (n=10). To induce biofilm formation, brackets, wires, and ligatures were joined, sterilized, placed in 24-well plates, contaminated with standardized suspensions of C. albicans (107 cells/mL), and incubated at 37 °C for 48 h with shaking. The biofilms formed were detached using an ultrasonic homogenizer, and suspensions were serially diluted and plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar to determine colony-forming units per mL. Scanning electron microscopy was performed before and after the biofilm formation. Results: lower amount of biofilm formation was observed in the MC group than in the CB and SLB groups (p<0.0001). SLB and CB showed similar biofilm formation rates (p=0.855). In general, the cross-sectional wires .018"x.025" showed higher biofilm formation when associated with the three types of brackets. When brackets, wires, and ligatures were associated, the sets with NiCr wires and SSL ligatures with MC brackets (p=0.0008) and CB (p=0.0003) showed higher biofilm formation. Conclusion: thus, brackets of MC with NiTi and NiCr wires showed lower biofilm formation, regardless of the ligature and cross-sectional or gauge of the wire and, MC and CB brackets with NiCr wires and SSL ligatures were more likely to accumulate biofilms (AU)

Objetivo: neste estudo, a formação de biofilme por Candida albicans em aparelhos ortodônticos fixos foi avaliada. Material e Métodos: um total de 300 bráquetes metálicos convencionais (MC), cerâmicos (CB), autoligados (SLB), com fios de níquel-titânio (NiTi) e níquel-cromo (NiCr) e tipos de ligaduras foram organizados em trinta grupos (n=10). Bráquetes, fios e ligaduras foram unidos, esterilizados, colocados em placas de 24 poços, contaminados com suspensões padronizadas de C. albicans (107 células/mL) e incubados a 37°C por 48 h para a formação de biofilmes. Os biofilmes formados foram rompidos por meio de um homogeneizador ultrassônico e suspensões foram diluídas e semeadas em ágar Sabouraud-dextrose para determinar as unidades formadoras de colônias por mL. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi realizada antes e após a formação do biofilme. Resultados: foi observada menor formação de biofilme no grupo MC em comparação aos grupos CB e SLB (p<0,0001). A formação de biofilme foi semelhante nos grupos SLB e CB (p=0,855). Em geral, os fios de seção transversal .018"x.025" apresentaram maior formação de biofilme quando associados aos três tipos de bráquetes. Os conjuntos com fios de NiCr e ligaduras SSL com bráquetes MC (p=0,0008) e CB (p=0,0003) apresentaram maior formação de biofilme. Conclusão: bráquetes MC com fios de NiTi e NiCr apresentaram menor formação de biofilme, independente da ligadura e secção transversal ou bitola do fio e, braquetes MC e CB com fios de NiCr e ligaduras SSL foram mais propensos a acumular biofilmes.(AU)