Magnetron sputtering was evaluated to equip surfaces of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures with silver and bismuth nanofilms.
Antibacterial properties were evaluated by the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans. Polyurethane-based elastomeric ligatures were coated with silver and bismuth nanofilms via direct current magnetron sputtering. Surface roughness (Ra ) and surface-free energy (SFE) were assessed. Coated specimens were incubated with S. mutans for 2 h. Adhering bacteria were visualized by Hoechst staining and quantified by an ATP-based luminescence assay. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc testing and Pearson correlation analysis were performed (p < .05) to relate bacterial adhesion to surface roughness and surface-free energy.
Elastomeric ligatures were successfully coated with silver and bismuth nanofilms. Ra was significantly reduced by silver coating. Silver and bismuth coatings showed significantly higher SFE than controls. Adhesion of S. mutans was significantly decreased by silver coating. No correlation between bacterial adhesion and SFE was found. Correlation between bacterial adhesion and Ra was positive but not statistically significant.
Magnetron sputtering proved to be a feasible method to equip orthodontic elastomeric ligatures with silver and bismuth nanofilms. Silver coatings of elastomeric ligatures may reduce white spots and carious lesions in orthodontic patients. Future research is required to stabilize coatings.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to investigate surface properties and microbial adhesion of various dental polymers fabricated by different manufacturing techniques before and after thermocycling.
METHODS: The following six materials were used to fabricate disk-shaped specimens: conventional denture polymer (Vertex Acrylic Resin, VAR), CAD/CAM denture polymer (Organic PMMA eco Pink, OP), conventional temporary polymer (Protemp™ 4, PT), CAD/CAM temporary polymer (Die Material, DM), conventional denture framework polymer (BioHPP, PB), and CAD/CAM denture framework polymer (breCAM.BioHPP, CB). The specimens were tested before and after thermocycling (5000 and 10,000 cycles, 5 °C/55 °C). Surface roughness (SR), hydrophobicity, and surface topography were determined by profilometry, water contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then specimens were incubated with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans for 24 h, respectively. Microbial adhesion was assessed using colony-forming unit counts, XTT assay, and SEM.
RESULTS: SR and hydrophobicity of VAR group were higher than that of OP group. S. aureus and C. albicans adhesion on VAR and PT groups were higher than that on OP and DM groups, respectively. There was no difference in surface properties and microbial adhesion between PB and CB groups. After thermocycling, SR (expect OP group) of all materials increased and hydrophobicity decreased, and the amount and activity of S. aureus and C. albicans adhesion also increased. The adhesion of S. aureus and C. albicans showed a moderate positive correlation with SR, independent of hydrophobicity.
CONCLUSIONS: CAD/CAM denture polymers and temporary polymers showed less S. aureus and C. albicans adhesion when compared to conventional ones, which were mainly affected by surface roughness, independent of hydrophobicity. Thermocycling could increase surface roughness, decrease hydrophobicity, and affect microbial adhesion of the materials.
CONCLUSIONS: CAD/CAM dental polymers may be a better choice for the manufacture of temporary restorations and dentures to reduce microbial adhesion.

UNASSIGNED: Orthodontic wax materials are available on the dental market and are given by orthodontists due to pain, sores and irritation caused by treatment. The aim of the study was to compare biofilm formation and microbial adhesion at different time points on different protective materials used against orthodontic wounds in vitro.
UNASSIGNED: Microbial adhesion and biofilm formation were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 standard strains on orthodontic wax materials at the 0, 24th, 48th, 72nd, 96th and 120th hour. The Kruskal Wallis test and Bonferroni test were used for statistical evaluations. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
UNASSIGNED: It was observed that S. mutans formed statistically significantly more biofilm on OrthoDots®CLEAR (OrVance) than Ora-Aid (TBM Corporation) at the 48th hour (p < 0.05). Furthermore, L. acidophilus formed statistically significantly more biofilm on OrthoDots®CLEAR (OrVance) than Brace Gard®(Infa-Lab Inc.) at the 72nd, 96th and 120th hours (p < 0.05).
UNASSIGNED: Significant differences were noted among the different orthodontic wax materials and both S. mutans and L. acidophilus created biofilm on all waxes at different time points in vitro. To prevent biofilm formation, these waxes need to be refreshed and should not be used for more than 24 h. According to our study, biofilm production performances of pathogens on Brace Gard®(Infa-Lab Inc.) are minimal and therefore it may be a better option to use in clinics. However, to our knowledge, this is the first study investigating biofilm formation on waxes and more studies are needed in this field.

BACKGROUND: The adhesion ability of microorganisms to the surface of titanium miniplates and screws is one of factors in the development of purulent-inflammatory complications in the postoperative period. One of the solutions to this problem is the use of an ion-plasma coating of mini-plates and screws.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to prove a decrease adhesion level of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacterium to samples of titanium mini-plates with ion-plasma coating, compared with samples without coating.
METHODS: Present opinion about microbial adhesion, how the most important stage of development microbial colonization of abiotic surfaces, was been basis of this study. The strains of aerobic and facultative anaerobic pathogens, as well as the non-spore-forming (non-clostridial) obligate-anaerobic pathogens were used in the research. During the experiments the standard method for determining residual adhesion was applied. The data obtained were processed by the «Biostat 9.0» software package. For the data received by the methods of variational parametric and nonparametric statistics we used the Mann-Whitney test, taking into account the average value, error, and the number of observations (significance of differences at p<0.05).
RESULTS: As a result, the differences between the indices residual adhesion of strains aerobic and facultative anaerobic pathogens on the samples with and without a protective coating were statistically reliable, however, the adhesion of the individual species varied. The same differences between the indices residual adhesion were obtained among the strains of obligate anaerobic pathogens. The low level of adhesion, which was observed in the case of using the protective coating, is a very promising way of development, since these microorganisms are dangerous as the may lead to the development of purulent-inflammatory complications and the rejection of implants.
CONCLUSIONS: The decreased level of adhesion is a factor which reduces the microbial load during the postoperative period.
UNASSIGNED: Способность микроорганизмов к адгезии на поверхность устанавливаемых титановых минипластин и винтов является одним из ключевых факторов развития гнойно-воспалительных осложнений в послеоперационном периоде. К вариантам решения этой проблемы относится использование ионно-плазменного покрытия минипластин и винтов.
UNASSIGNED: Доказать снижение адгезии патогенных и условно-патогенных бактерий на образцы титановых минипластин с ионно-плазменным покрытием по сравнению с образцами без покрытия.
UNASSIGNED: В основу исследования легли современные представления о микробной адгезии как о первом и наиболее важном этапе развития микробной колонизации абиотических поверхностей, в том числе поверхности имплантатов. В исследовании были использованы штаммы аэробных и факультативно-анаэробных патогенов, неспорообразующих (неклостридиальных) облигатно-анаэробных патогенов. При выполнении экспериментов использовали стандартную методику определения остаточной адгезии. Полученные данные обрабатывали с применением программного пакета Biostat 9.0 для данных, полученных методами вариационной параметрической и непараметрической статистики. Использовали критерий Манна—Уитни с учетом средней величины, ошибки и количества наблюдений (достоверность различий при p<0,05).
UNASSIGNED: Все различия индексов остаточной адгезии штаммов аэробных и факультативно-анаэробных патогенов на образцах с защитным покрытием и без него были статистически достоверны, однако адгезия отдельных видов различалась. Кроме того, все различия индексов остаточной адгезии штаммов облигатно-анаэробных патогенов были статистически достоверны.
UNASSIGNED: Низкий уровень адгезии, который наблюдался при использовании сплава с защитным покрытием, является весьма перспективным с практической точки зрения, так как эти возбудители представляют серьезную опасность в плане возможного развития гнойно-воспалительных осложнений и отторжения имплантатов, а снижение адгезии является благоприятным фактором, который снижает микробную нагрузку в послеоперационном периоде.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to preformed zirconia and stainless steel crowns and compare plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation over a period of 1 year.
METHODS: Thirty children between 6 to 9 years with pulpectomised bilateral mandibular primary second molars were randomly divided into zirconia/stainless steel groups. Plaque was collected from the crowns using swabs at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Gingival and plaque index were recorded at all follow-ups. S. mutans was cultured on tryptone-yeast-cysteine-sucrose-bacitracin agar, and organisms were expressed as colony-forming units. Within-group analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and between-groups using the independent T test.
RESULTS: S. mutans were found in significantly higher numbers on the stainless steel crowns as compared with zirconia crowns at all the follow-ups. Gingival inflammation and plaque index scores were also significantly higher around the stainless steel crowns as compared with zirconia at the end of 12 months follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: Adhesion of S. mutans to stainless steel crowns was significantly greater when compared with zirconia, and minimal gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation was found in the tooth restored with zirconia crowns as compared with stainless steel crowns.
CONCLUSIONS: Preformed zirconia crowns prevents adhesion of S. mutans onto its surface, and reduces plaque accumulation around the crown, inflammation of surrounding gingiva compared to conventional stainless-steel crowns. Pediatric zirconia crowns could help in reducing the overall microbial density and prevalence in the oral cavity, thus reducing the caries risk in the long term.

Better understanding the mechanisms of Leonurus cardiaca L. extract (LCE) activity is necessary to prepare recommendations for the use of LCE-based herbal products for preventive/supportive purposes in case of infective endocarditis (IE) and other staphylococcal invasive infections. The aim of the study was to analyze molecular mechanisms of LCE effect on Staphylococcus aureus and blood platelets in the context of their interactions playing a pivotal role in such disorders. Using atomic force microscopy, we demonstrated that adhesion forces of S. aureus were markedly reduced after exposure to LCE at subinhibitory concentrations. The effect resulted from the impact of LCE on S. aureus cell morphology and the composition of phospholipids and fatty acids in bacterial membranes (assessed by HPLC), which modulated their stabilization, hydrophobicity, and charge. Moreover, using FACS we showed also that LCE significantly reduced GP IIb/IIIa expression on blood platelets, thus the disruption of platelet-fibrinogen interactions seems to explain antiplatelet effect of LCE. The obtained results prove the usefulness of LCE in the prevention of S. aureus adhesion, platelet activation, and vegetations development, however, also pointed out the necessity of excluding the cationic antibiotics from the treatment of S. aureus-associated IE and other invasive diseases, when motherwort herb is used simultaneously as an addition to the daily diet.

BACKGROUND: The oral ecosystem is a dynamic environment inhabited by more than 700 microbial taxa. Recent studies report that multispecies oral biofilms develop on the surface of resin composites leading to degradation of its organic matrix and altered structural stability of the restoration.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of a novel clinical approach to investigating in vivo formed biofilms on resin composite surfaces.
METHODS: The clinical protocol of this study implemented indirect composite molar restorations (from resin material Filtek Z250, 3M ESPE) as intraoral biofilm carriers (test devices). We recruited for the experiment 5 consenting adult subjects with indications for indirect molar restoration. For each subject we fabricated 4 indirect restorations, 3 of which dedicated to different intraoral duration - 3, 7, and 14 days. All composite carriers were fixed temporarily for the intended time period and consecutively replaced. The detached carriers were prepared for microscope analysis at each time interval. The fourth composite carrier was used as the definitive restoration.
RESULTS: The timeline of the biofilm formation and the microbial morphology were associated with previous studies of in vivo bacterial colonisation. A correlation between the plaque formation cycle and the DMFt indices of the subjects was established.
CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of indirect composite restorations as intraoral biofilm carrier offers valuable contribution to the real time investigation of in vivo biofilm accumulation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and compare flexural strength and Staphylococcus aureus adhesion of heat-activated poly (methyl methacrylate [MMA]) resin modified with a comonomer of methacrylic acid (MAA) and MMA monomer.
METHODS: Comonomer preparation was done with the addition of varying concentration of MAA (0, 15, 20, and 25 wt %) to the MMA of conventional heat-activated denture base resin to prepare the specimens. Prepared specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 1 day and 1 week before the evaluation of flexural strength and microbial adhesion. Flexural strength was measured using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed for 2 mm/min (n = 10). Microbial adhesion (colony-forming unit [CFU]) was evaluated against S. aureus using a quadrant streaking method (n = 5). Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA, and the significant differences among the results were subjected to Tukey\'s HSD test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Addition of MAA to the MMA monomer was found to significantly reduce the adhesion of S. aureus for all the groups. Reduction of CFU of S. aureus was found be more significant for Group 3 as compared to control, both at 1-day (P < 0.001) and 1-week (P < 0.002) storage in distilled water. However, no statistically significant changes in the flexural strength were observed with the addition of MAA at 1-day (P = 0.52) and 1-week (P = 0.88) time interval.
CONCLUSIONS: Addition of MAA to conventional denture base resin reduced the microbial adhesion without significantly affecting the flexural strength.