title: Clinical evaluation of salivary indices and levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in patients treated with Occlus-o-Guide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the changes over time associated with salivary indices and the presence of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in patients treated with Occlus-o-Guide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of patients were evaluated: a test group of 20 patients treated with Occlus-o-Guide and a control group of 20 patients not subjected to orthodontic treatment. Both groups were homogeneous for age and sex. We examined the levels of S. Mutans and Lactobacillus, the salivary flow, the buffer capacity of saliva and the Sillness and Loe plaque index (PI). The samples were taken at baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1) and after 6 months of treatment (T2). All data were compared using Student's t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of patients with a level of Streptococcus mutans able to cause caries was decreased in the test group (T0 = 10%, T1 = %, T2 = 0%) compared to the control group (T0 = 0%, T1 = 5%, T2 = 35%), whereas the amount of Lactobacilli was different (test group T0 = 15%, T1 = 0%, T2 = 10%; control group T0 = 0%, T1 = 5%, T2 = 35%). The total salivary flow was increased in the test group (T0 = 47, T1 = 61, T2 = 61) compared to the control group, in which it had remained almost constant (T0 = 44, T1 = 45, T2 = 45). The buffer capacity of saliva was unchanged in both groups over time; the sum of PI-plaque indices was reduced in the test group (T0 = 3, T1 = 0, T2 = 2) compared to the control group (T0 = 0, T1 = 14, T2 = 27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the presence of the Occlus-o-Guide device, patients are able to maintain a good level of oral hygiene, showing improvements of the examinated parameters at follow-ups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mummolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tecco
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albani
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giuca
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marzo
mesh_terms: D000202:Activator Appliances / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002021:Buffers; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers