An In Vivo Comparison of Bacterial Colonization with Orthodontic Bracket System

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this in vivo study was to compare the amount of bacterial colonization associated with metal, self-ligating and ceramic orthodontic brackets . Materials and Method: The study was done on 30 orthodontic patients who were randomly divided in to three groups. Group I bonded with metal brackets wire ligated with steel ligature , Group II bonded with self-ligating brackets and Group III bonded using ceramic brackets wire ligated with elastomeric module. Amount of bacterial colonization was evaluated from right of the maxillary dental arch at day 1 and at day 21, the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial count was then compared. Result: ANOVA test for anaerobic and aerobic log bacterial count showed significant difference between group I, group II and group III observations at 5% level of significance at day 21. Conclusion: The result of this in vivo study concluded that higher bacterial colonization was associated with ceramic brackets ligated with elastomeric modules followed by metal bra ckets ligated with steel ligatures and comparatively less microbial growth was observed in self - ligating brackets