Microbiological assessment of aerosol generated during debond of fixed orthodontic appliances.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to describe bacterial load and diversity of the aerosol created during enamel cleanup after the removal of fixed orthodontic appliances and to assess the effect of a preprocedural mouth rinse.

Methods: The study involved the sampling of ambient air adjacent to the patient's mouth during adhesive removal using a slow-speed handpiece and a spiral fluted tungsten carbide bur without water irrigation. Sampling was carried out during enamel cleanup with or without a preprocedural mouth rinse of either sterile water or chlorhexidine.

Axenic culture of a candidate division TM7 bacterium from the human oral cavity and biofilm interactions with other oral bacteria.

The diversity of bacterial species in the human oral cavity is well recognized, but a high proportion of them are presently uncultivable. Candidate division TM7 bacteria are almost always detected in metagenomic studies but have not yet been cultivated. In this paper, we identified candidate division TM7 bacterial phylotypes in mature plaque samples from around orthodontic bonds in subjects undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Microbial contamination of "as received" and "clinic exposed" orthodontic materials.

Introduction: Our objective was to determine whether components of fixed orthodontic appliances as received from the manufacturers and after exposure to the clinical environment are free from microbial contamination before clinical use. A pilot molecular microbiologic laboratory study was undertaken at a dental hospital in the United Kingdom.

Methods: A range of orthodontic materials "as received" from the manufacturers and materials "exposed" to the clinical environment were studied for bacterial contamination.