title: Effects of 2 bracket and ligation types on plaque retention: a quantitative microbiologic analysis with real-time polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets ligated with stainless steel ligatures on dental plaque retention and microbial flora.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty boys (mean age, 14.2 ± 1.5 years) underwent bonding with self-ligating bracket systems and conventional standard edgewise bracket systems ligated with stainless steel ligatures with a split-mouth design. Clinical measurements, including plaque index, probing pocket depth, and bleeding on probing, were obtained before bonding, 1 week after bonding, and 3 months after bonding. Supragingival plaque samples were obtained at baseline and 3 months after bonding for the detection of bacteria. A quantitative analysis for Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus acidophilus was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Hotelling T(2) multivariate test were used for statistical comparisons of the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The numbers of S mutans, S sobrinus, L casei, and L acidophilus were not statistically different between self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets ligated with stainless steel ligatures (P >0.05). The 2 archwire ligation techniques showed no statistically significant differences in plaque index, bleeding on probing, and probing pocket depth values of the bonded teeth (P >0.05). All clinical parameters and the numbers of all microorganisms showed statistically significant increases from baseline to 3 months after bonding in both groups (P <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets ligated with stainless steel ligatures do not differ with regard to dental plaque retention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. mugen97@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zeliha Müge
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: Faruk Ayhan
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Basciftci
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002648:Child; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000145:classification*; D009969:Orthodontic Wires / Q000145:classification*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D013193:Stainless Steel