Microflora associated with successful and failed orthodontic mini-implants.
OBJECTIVE
Mini-implants are used for orthodontic bone anchorage. The reasons for a potential instability or loss of the mini-implants during treatment are multiple. Among other factors, colonization of implants with pathogenic bacteria is discussed. Therefore, the microflora associated with successful and failed mini-implants has been screened.


METHODS
A total of 76 mini-implants collected from 25 patients were observed during regular orthodontic treatment. Bacterial samples of eight failed and - exemplarily - four successful (control) cases were subjected to a universal Bacteria-directed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for quantification in combination with a microarray-based identification of 20 selected species.


RESULTS
The failure rate in the present investigation was 10.5%. The bacterial analysis did not reveal any major difference in the total amount or species composition between control and failed mini-implants. However, Actinomyces viscosus was found in four (100%) and Campylobacter gracilis in three (75%) stable controls, whereas both species were rarely found (12.5%) in failed implants.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, the peri-implant sulcus surrounding failed orthodontic mini-implants did not show a specific aggressive bacterial flora.
Apel
Stephanie
S
Department of Orthodontics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Apel
Christian
C
Morea
Camillo
C
Tortamano
André
A
Dominguez
Gladys Cristina
GC
Conrads
Georg
G
D016924:Actinomyces viscosus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000150:complications*; D000293:Adolescent; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015921:Dental Implants