AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightRing shaped low-friction elastomeric ligatures were not different from the steel ligature in terms of S. mutans colonization.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Özet
Objective: To compare Streptococcus mutans colonization between low-friction elastomeric ligatures and to correlate microbial colo nization levels with the surface roughness status. Methods: The study included 160 premolars of 10 patients. During the study period, which consisted of 4 sessions each lasting 4 weeks, the ligature types Slide™ Low-Friction Ligature (Leone, Firenze, Italy), Tough-O Energy™ (Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Den ver, USA), and Sili Ties™ (Dentsply Sirona, Surrey KT13 0NY, UK), and steel ligatures (American Orthodontics, Sheboygan, USA) as a control, were fixed to the premolar teeth by clockwise rotation among the jaw quadrants. The plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were obtained before bonding (T0), 6 weeks after bonding (T1), and subsequently every 4 weeks (T2, T3, T4). Presence of S. mutans was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction at T1, T2, T3, T4. Surface roughness was evaluated with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) before ligation (Ra0) and after (Ra1) ligation. The paired t-test, ANOVA, repeated measures of ANOVA, and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used for the statistical analysis. Results: S. mutans colonization was significantly higher on the Slide group (P .05). Conclusion: S. mutans colonization showed variations in low-friction elastomeric ligatures independent of surface roughness. Ring shaped low-friction elastomeric ligatures were not different from the steel ligature in terms of S. mutans colonization.