title: The effect of two different bracket types on the salivary levels of S mutans and S sobrinus in the early phase of orthodontic treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the difference in the levels of Streptococcus mutans and S sobrinus in stimulated saliva in orthodontic patients with different bracket types (stainless steel and esthetic brackets) using polymerase chain reaction and cultivation method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients, aged 13 to 30 years, were selected following these criteria: 1) orthodontic treatment indication, 2) systemic health, and 3) no tobacco and antibiotic consummation for three months prior to the commencement of the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the bracket type; 16 patients formed the conventional bracket group (stainless steel brackets), and 16 patients formed the esthetic bracket group (plastic brackets). The levels of S mutans and S sobrinus in stimulated whole saliva samples were collected prior to fixed orthodontic appliance placement (T1) and 12 weeks after placement (T2), as were the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surface Index (DMFS) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S). Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis (chi-square test) showed no difference in S mutans and S sobrinus counts among patients with different brackets at either T1 or T2. There was no difference in total bacteria counts after fixed orthodontic appliance placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of colony-forming units of S mutans and S sobrinus in stimulated saliva samples does not seem to be significantly different between patients with stainless steel brackets and patients with plastic brackets.
authors: Antonija
authors: A
authors: Jurela
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Repic
authors: Slavica
authors: S
authors: Pejda
authors: Hrvoje
authors: H
authors: Juric
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Vidakovic
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Matic
authors: Andrija
authors: A
authors: Bosnjak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification*