Surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide for its antiadherent and antibacterial properties.
OBJECTIVE
To test the antiadherent and antibacterial properties of surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide (TiO(2)).


METHODS
TiO(2) was coated on the surface of the orthodontic wires by a sol-gel thin film dip-coating method. Bacterial adhesion to the wires was evaluated by the weight change of the wires. The antibacterial activity of the surface-modified orthodontic wires was demonstrated by the dilution agar plate method for Streptococcus mutans and spectrophotometry for Porphyromonas gingivalis.


RESULTS
The orthodontic wires coated with the photocatalytic TiO(2) showed an antiadherent effect against S. mutans compared with the uncoated wires. The bacterial mass that bound to the TiO(2)-coated orthodontic wires remained unchanged, whereas that of the uncoated wires increased by 4.97%. Furthermore, the TiO(2)-coated orthodontic wires had a bactericidal effect on S. mutans and P. gingivalis, which cause dental caries and periodontitis, respectively. The antiadherent and antibacterial mechanisms of TiO(2) to break down the cell wall of those bacteria were revealed by scanning electron microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
The surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic TiO(2) can be used to prevent the development of dental plaque during orthodontic treatment.
Chun
Mi-Jin
MJ
Department of Oral Microbiology, 2nd Stage of Brain Korea 21 for School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.
Shim
Eunju
E
Kho
Eun-Hee
EH
Park
Keum-Joo
KJ
Jung
Jarang
J
Kim
Jin-Man
JM
Kim
Byunghoon
B
Lee
Ki-Heon
KH
Cho
Dong-Lyun
DL
Bai
Dong-Hoon
DH
Lee
Syng-Ill
SI
Hwang
Hyeon-Shik
HS
Ohk
Seung-Ho
SH
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium