Aim:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of different orthodontic cements using a direct contact test (DCT).

Materials and Methods:

The antibacterial properties of 6 orthodontic cements were evaluated with DCT. For the DCT, wells (n=8) of 96-microtiter plates were coated with the tested cements (Durelon, Ketac-Cem Radiopaque, GC Fuji Ortho Band LC Paste Pak, Meron, Ultra Band Lok, and 3M Unitek Multi Cure). A Streptococcus mutans suspension was placed on the surface of each specimen for 1 hour at 37°C. Bacterial growth was monitored for 16 hours with a temperature-controlled microplate spectrophotometer. The kinetics of the outgrowth in each well was recorded continuously at 650 nm every 30 minutes. Additional experiments were performed in which the tested materials were aged for 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and Tamhane's T2 multiple comparison test.

Results:

The results of the DCT showed that, freshly mixed samples of 3M Multi Cure (P=0.02), GC Fuji Ortho (P=0.04), Meron (P=0.001), and Durelon (P=0.001) showed antibacterial activity. After aging for one week 3M Unitek Multi Cure (P=0.000), Durelon (P=0.03) still showed antibacterial activity. In the experiments with 1 month aged specimens, only Durelon (P=0.001) showed antibacterial activity. In the 3 months aged specimens, 3M Multi Cure (P=0.000), GC Fuji Ortho (P=0.001), and Durelon (P=0.001) showed antibacterial property.

Conclusion:

Within the limitations of this study, 3M Unitek Multi Cure, GC Fuji Ortho, and Durelon, showed antibacterial properties during study period.

Keywords: Antibacterial effects, Cements, Direct Contact Test