Adherence of S.mutans and C.albicans to Different Bracket Materials

Objectives: To quantify the adherence of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans on stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, titanium and gold brackets.

Materials and Methods: Premolar Brackets made of five different materials were divided into six groups along with a control group which did not have brackets - Stainless steel, Composite, Ceramic, Titanium, Gold and Control. 8 samples from five experimental groups were cultured. These eight vials of each group were inoculated with mutans streptococci and Candida albicans respectively. This was achieved by matching the culture media with the organism to the control with the help of turbidity meter, Dade Behering, MicroScan according to MacFarlane standard. Then the brackets were placed in the glass vials. The grid was made by drawing the circumference of the vial on a sheet of celluloid film. Adherence was measured after 48 hours by counting the colonies formed in each square.SPSS software version 15 was used for statistical analysis. One way ANNOVA analysis and Scheffé post hoc test was used for multiple comparisons. A value of P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Evaluating Streptococcus mutans alone, the adherence was greatest for steel and least for titanium.

When Candida albicans was evaluated alone, the adherence was greatest for titanium and least for gold. When Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans were evaluated in combination, it revealed an antagonistic relationship. Evaluation under SEM showed that the yeasts exhibited numerous cell elongations in the presence of composite.

Conclusion: Based on this in vitro study, it can be seen that S. mutans and C. albicans have a greater adherence potential to bracket materials made of plastic and ceramic and thus these materials should be used with greater oral hygiene care in orthodontic patients especially those who are periodontally compromised