Effect of Antimicrobial Varnish on Microbial Concentration Around Orthodontic Brackets”– An Invivo Study

Abstract

Introduction: Fixed orthodontic appliances limit the ease of naturally occurring salivary cleansing and antimicrobial activity thereby promoting proportionate growth and agglomeration of aciduric bacteria with time, leading to formation of active white spot lesions.

Objectives: Preventing development of WSLs during orthodontic treatment has been attempted through various approaches

Methods: In this study, 4 groups with 10 subjects each were selected, and with split mouth design Chlorhexidine-Thymol antimicrobial varnish (Cervitec® Plus, Ivoclar Vivadent, Lischenstein)premixed with primer is applied on the premolars during bonding and its effect on the microbial composition and concentration around orthodontic brackets, is evaluated through microbial culture at 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th months after debonding.

Results: The result shows that within the controls, the microbial counts were found to be gradually increasing from a value of 5.9 ±1.3 (in 10⁴) in group I to 14.9 ± 1.9 (in 10⁴) in group IV while in the experimental sample, the count increase from a value of 1.2 ± 0.6(in 10⁴) in group I to 13.3 ± 2.6 (in 10⁴) in group IV.

Conclusions: It is concluded that the application of chlorhexidine-thymol antimicrobial varnish premixed with primer during orthodontic bonding showed effective reduction in the microbial counts in vivo, for the duration of four months, with proportionate decline in the antimicrobial effect with time.