The aim of this study was to compare the pain experience among orthodontic patients treated with self-ligating brackets SmartClip® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) and conventional brackets Victory series® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). We used a controlled clinical trial study design to compare 69 patients treated with self-ligating to 70 patients treated by conventional brackets. The nickel-titanium archwires 0.012-in were engaged after bonding both arches on the first day; and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain experience of subjects for the first seven treatment days. The pre-treatment dental study models were assessed by the Little’s irregularity index to quantify the groups’ malalignment characteristics. The self-ligating brackets reported lower pain experience than the conventional group on the first five treatment days. However, the sixth day showed 1.75 mm higher visual analogue score than conventional brackets, with almost equal pain level on the seventh day. The group differences throughout the first week were neither clinically nor statistically significant. The pain experiences in both groups decreased steadily from the third treatment day to the end of the first week of treatment. Based on the study findings, the pain experience during initial alignment is not influenced by the brackets’ ligation type. The pain experience tends to decrease steadily from the third treatment day to the end of the first week of treatment irrespective of the bracket type used.
Orthodontic Brackets, Orthodontic Appliances

As a common side effect of fixed orthodontic treatment, demineralization of the enamel adjacent to the bracket and band occurs in patients with poor oral hygiene. The purpose of this study was to investigate what is the most effective method to prevent demineralization around the fixed orthodontic appliance among various methods using fluoride. 80 extracted bovine incisors with a healthy surface were classified into four groups as experimental materials: (Group I) Control group, (Group II) V varnish™, (Group III) Tooth Mousse Plus®, (Group IV) Vanish™ XT. After treatment for each group, mineral loss and Vickers surface microhardness were measured at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days after demineralization in artificial carious solution. Mineral loss was the lowest in group IV, followed by group II and group III, which showed a significant difference. The surface microhardness was the lowest in group IV, followed by group II and group III, which showed a significant difference. Through this study, group IV showed the best effect to prevent enamel demineralization around the bracket. Group III showed significant prevention of enamel demineralization compared with the control group, but the effect was less than that of the other groups.
Dental Enamel ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Incisor ; Methods ; Miners ; Oral Hygiene ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Tooth

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the effects of Tip-Edge Differential Straight-Arch Technique in treating Angle II (1) malocclusion.

METHODS13 adults with Angle II (1) malocclusion were treated with Tip-Edge appliance. The results of cephalometric measurements before and after treatment were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe average treatment time was 16.2 months. The results of cephalometric measurement showed that UIC-AP decreased by 3.72 mm (P < 0.01), LIC-AP decreased by 1.03 mm (P < 0.01), LIC-MP decreased by 1.59 mm (P < 0.01), L6-MP increased by 0.99 mm (P <0.05), the over jet decreased by 3.73 mm (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTip-Edge appliance can effectively change the dento-alveolar position by means of the differential mechanics.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cephalometry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; therapy ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Orthodontic Wires ; Tooth Movement Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dynamic changes of Streptococcus mutans concentration of plaque during fixed appliance treatment and the effects of two materials of ligation on Streptococcus mutans concentration.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients undergoing fixed appliance treatment were observed. Ligature wire and elastomeric rings were applied on one side of arches, stochastically. The dynamic changes on the quantity and percentage of Streptococcus mutans were observed before and after fixed appliance bonding.

RESULTSStatistically significant increase of the quantity and percentage of Streptococcus mutans was found after fixed appliance bonding, and the percentage of Streptococcus mutans in the plaque around the brackets ligated with elastomeric rings was more than that of ligature wire at the beginning of fixed appliance bonding, statistically.

CONCLUSIONSThe finding suggested that the caries-associated capability of the plaque increased after bonding and there was greater caries-associated capability of the plague on the teeth when elastomeric rings was used than that of the plague when ligature wire was used at treatment beginning. The ligature wire is recommended in the fixed appliance treatment.

Adolescent ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Child ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Orthodontic Appliances ; microbiology ; Orthodontic Brackets ; microbiology ; Streptococcus mutans ; physiology

Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are major etiological agents in enamel demineralization around orthodontic appliances. This study was designed to examine the prevalence of these streptococci on orthodontic brackets in vivo using polymerase chain reaction. Four incisor brackets in the upper and lower arches were removed and collected from 80 patients at the time of debonding. The genomic DNA of adhered bacteria was extracted and each dextranase gene of S. mutans and S. sobrinus was amplified using the specific oligonucleotide primers. The results showed that the maxillary incisor brackets were colonized by both cariogenic streptococci to a somewhat higher degree than that taken from the mandible. The prevalence of S. mutans was 50.0% on the maxillary incisor brackets and 33.8% on the mandibular incisor brackets, and that of S. sobrinus was 17.5% and 15.0%, respectively. Both species were detected on the maxillary incisor brackets of 7 patients (8.8%) and the mandibular incisor brackets of 5 patients (6.3%). These results suggest that cariogenic streptococci can adhere to the incisor brackets and may be resident species on the incisor brackets.
Bacteria ; Colon ; Dental Enamel ; Dextranase ; DNA ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mandible ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prevalence ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sobrinus