Fluoridated elastomers: effect on disclosed plaque

• Published in: Journal of orthodontics 2004-03, Vol.31 (1), p.41-46
• Main Authors: Benson, P. E, Shah, A. A, Campbell, I. F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Child; Coloring Agents; Cross-Over Studies; dental plaque; Dental Plaque - diagnosis; Dental Plaque - prevention & control; Dentistry; elastomers; Elastomers - chemistry; Female; fluoride; Fluorides - administration & dosage; Humans; image analysis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Orthodontic Appliances; Orthodontic Brackets; Orthodontics; Prospective Studies; randomized clinical trial; Reproducibility of Results; Sample Size; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 1465-3125; 1465-3133
• DOI: 10.1179/146531204225011300

Objective: To investigate the effect of fluoridated elastomers on the quantity of disclosed dental plaque surrounding an orthodontic bracket in vivo. Design: A randomized, prospective, longitudinal clinical trial, employing a split mouth, crossover design. Setting: The Orthodontic Departments of Liverpool and Sheffield Dental Hospitals. Subjects and methods: The subjects were 30 individuals about to start fixed orthodontic treatment. The study consisted of two experimental periods of 6 weeks with a washout period between. Fluoridated elastomers were randomly assigned at the first visit to be placed around brackets on 12, 11, 33 or 22, 21, 43. Non-fluoridated elastomers were placed on the contra-lateral teeth. After 6 weeks (visit 2) the elastomers were removed, the teeth disclosed and a photograph taken. Non-fluoridated elastomers were placed on all brackets for one visit to allow for a washout period. At visit 3, fluoridated elastomers were placed on the contra-lateral teeth to visit 1. At visit 4, the procedures at visit 2 were repeated. The photographs were scanned, then the area and proportion of the buccal surface covered with disclosed plaque was measured using computerized image analysis. A mixed-effects ANOVA was carried out with the dependent variable being the area or percentage area of disclosed plaque. Results: There was no evidence of a systematic error and substantial agreement for the repeat readings of the same images. The only significant independent variable for the area of disclosed plaque was the subject (p < 0.001). The significant independent variables for the proportion of disclosed plaque were the subject (p < 0.001) and the tooth type (p = 0.002). The independent variable describing the use of fluoridated or non-fluoridated elastomers was not significant for either the area or the proportion of disclosed plaque. Conclusion: Fluoridated elastomers do not affect the quantity of disclosed plaque around an orthodontic bracket.