Effect of Antimicrobial Agent-Applied Brackets and Resins on Plaque Accumulation: An In Vivo Study

Objective: In order to prevent plaque formation during fixed orthodontic treatment, bracket and band surfaces have been coated with a selenium-containing antimicrobial agent, and the same agent has been incorporated into adhesive resin materials. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the clinical performance, in terms of plaque accumulation, of the combination of selenium-coated brackets and selenium-enhanced adhesive resin (re-search group) versus the combination of conventional brackets and light-cured adhesive resin (control group) during fixed orthodontic treatments. Materials and Methods: Seventeen female subjects with skeletal Class I malocclusion were included in this study. A total of 142 selenium-coated brackets and 145 conventional brackets were bonded by the same researcher using a split-mouth design. Selenium-enhanced adhesive resin was used with the selenium-coated brackets, while a conventional adhesive resin was used with the conventional brackets. In all patients, the incidence of plaque accumulation was determined using a computerized image analysis system based on monthly photographic records during the first three months of fixed orthodontic treatment. Results: After three months, the average plaque percentage in the selenium-coated bracket group was not significantly lower" veya "did not differ significantly compared to the conventional bracket group. In intra-group comparisons, time and jaw had a statistically sig-nificant effect (p < 0.05), while no statistically significant difference was found between the groups for the bonded teeth" veya "between the test and control teeth (p > 0.05). Conclusion: No statistically significant difference in plaque accumulation was found between the selenium-coated and conventional bracket combinations.