Molecular Docking and Experimental Analysis of Essential Oil-Based Preparations on Biofilm Formation on Orthodontic Archwires

Good oral hygiene is crucial during treatment with fixed appliances, emphasising the need for additional or alternative oral health methods during orthodontic treatment. This study investigates the effect of essential oil (EO)-based preparations on biofilm adhesion to orthodontic archwires. Five identical-sized orthodontic archwires of different materials were tested using therapeutic and preventive applications of essential oils. This study also used molecular docking to explore how essential oil compounds interact with key proteins of common oral pathogens like <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>. We found that the constituent materials heavily influence the antimicrobial effects of essential oils on different orthodontic archwires. Stainless steel-based orthodontic archwires demonstrated the highest efficacy in antimicrobial protection against <i>S. mutans</i> strains (maximum BIP = 28.82% on the epoxy-coated SS). Conversely, inhibition effects in preventive applications against <i>S. aureus</i> were observed exclusively with titanium-molybdenum alloy orthodontic archwires across all tested emulsions (maximum BIP = 29.44%). CuNiTi alloys showed ineffectiveness in preventive treatments, as none of the EO mixtures inhibited biofilm development on this material. After biofilm contamination with <i>S. mutans</i> and <i>S. aureuss</i> strains, the ternary emulsion was most effective for four out of five orthodontic archwires. Computational analysis revealed strong binding interactions between essential oil compounds and key proteins of <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>S. mutans</i>, highlighting specific amino acid residues that are critical for these interactions. Based on the results, stainless steel with epoxy coating or TMA archwires, combined with BEO/CEO/OEO ternary mixture, are recommended for optimal antibacterial protection against biofilm formation on orthodontic archwires.