A common side effect of orthodontic treatment are the commonly called with spot lesions (WSL), which are defined as clinically detectable manifestations of subsurface enamel demineralization, representing the first stage of caries formation. Nearly 50% of patients after 12 months of treatment presents WSL, due to many factors as more difficult oral hygiene and the addition of orthodontic appliances in the mouth creates a rapid increase in bacterial flora, predominantly Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli. Together, these factors create an environment that favors demineralization of enamel.
Silver nanoparticles have demonstrated a bactericidal effect against oral pathogens, without pigmentation of the dental enamel and with no evidence of toxicity.
To evaluate the antimicrobial effectivity of the addition of silver nanoparticles to an orthodontic primer an in vitro study was performed in 40 teeth (2 groups). In the first group the brackets were cemented with the AgNPs doped primer (TX0) and it was applied to the teeth following the manufacturer's protocol. The second group had the same type of bracket and a conventional primer (TX1) (with no AgNps). All the teeth were immersed in culture media containing cariogenic bacteria and incubated at 37°C for varying periods (1, 15 and 30 days).
It was observed a significate reduction in S. mutans presence after 15 days of cemented teeth with the AgNPs doped primer.
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