ADHESION AND BIOFILM FORMATION BY ORAL STREPTOCOCCI ON DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL BRACKETS

Objective. To compare early bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in vitro by different oral streptococci on a variety of commercial brackets Materials and Methods. Adhesion and biofilm formation in vitro of 6 Streptococcus spp. on 15 different commercial brackets, in standard culture medium and in human saliva was evaluated by the MTT reduction assay. Results. Significant differences were evidenced in both early adhesion and biofilm formation among the studied brackets and between the two conditions of growth. Gold brackets resulted less prone to colonization, while composites brackets were the most prone ones. The rates of growth of the different tested species on the different tested materials were significantly different. Conclusions. The adopted experimental plan, dissecting the two phases of plaque formation on different brackets in different conditions, showed that composite brackets are more susceptible to adhesion and colonization by streptococci, while the remaining tested brackets do not show differences that could be clinically relevant. Data suggest that different personal behaviors affecting the oral environment could significantly affect colonization of brackets by cariogenic bacteria.