Abstract

Enamel demineralization due to increased plaque accumulation is a well-recognized problem associated with fixed orthodontic appliances. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a proprietary product to be marketed by 3M Unitek for the reduction of plaque accumulation and thereby reduce enamel demineralization.

Sixty four bovine teeth were divided equally into an untreated control group and a group treated with the proprietary sealant product. Both groups were subsequently immersed in a Streptococcus mutans culture. Plaque deposits from each group were removed, suspended in trypticase soy broth, serially diluted, and plated on trypticase soy agar at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The number of colony-forming units (CPU) on the agar plates were counted to compare any difference between the treatment and control groups and, ultimately, to determine whether the sealant product caused a reduction of plaque accumulation.

Plaque accumulation increased from weeks 1 to 4; then. In week 6, it decreased in both the treatment and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference in plaque accumulation between treatment and control groups at weeks 1, 2 and 6. However, at week 4 the treatment group showed a statistically lower amount of plaque accumulation in comparison to the control.

LLU Discipline

Orthodontics

Department

Dentistry

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

R. David Rynearson

Second Advisor

Joseph M. Caruso

Third Advisor

James D. Kettering

Fourth Advisor

Willis L. Schlenker

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1998

Date (Title Page)

6-1998

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Pit and Fissure Sealants; Dental Plaque

Type

Thesis

Page Count

v; 2; 17

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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