Effects of nano-TiO2 ceramic orthodontic brackets on dental plaque in vivo

AIM: To access bacterial plaque clearance of 2 SWA brackets, which are nano-TiO2 ceramic brackets developed by us and general brackets manufactured by the Xinya factory, Hangzhou. METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent the extraction of 4 first premolars, got the nano-TiO2 ceramic orthodontic bracket or normal stainless steel orthodontic bracket placed on the empty alveoli. Before bracket placement and 1,2,3 and 4 weeks after bracket placement, Plaque Index for Orthodontic Teeth (PLI-O) was detected. RESULTS: PLI-O increased after bracket placement in both the nano-TiO2 ceramic orthodontic bracket group and the normal stainless steel orthodontic bracket group. From 1st to 4th week, with time going on, PLI-O increased in both bracket groups. Difference of PLI-O between the 2 experimental bracket groups primarily existed in the bracket surface region and the region around brackets, especially in the bracket surface region (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Applying of fixed appliances will result in oral hygiene difficulty and increasing PLI-O. And the nano-TiO2 ceramic orthodontic brac- kets present good surface property, therefore, bacterial plaque clearance of it was better than that of the normal stainless steel orthodontic bracket.