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Fluoridated elastomers: effect on disclosed plaque

School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK

I. F. Campbell

Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Address for correspondence: Dr P. E. Benson, Department of Oral Health and Development, School of Clinical Dentistry, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK. Email: p.benson{at}sheffield.ac.uk

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.

Key words: Orthodontics, dental plaque, fluoride, elastomers, randomized clinical trial, image analysis

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