Bacteremic capacity of a minimally invasive flapless accelerated orthodontic technique

Abstract

Objective

The aim of present prospective cohort study was to investigate prevalence of bacteremia after a minimally invasive flapless accelerated orthodontic technique.

Material and Methods

The sample consisted of 30 orthodontic patients (18 female, 12 male; mean age: 19.57 ± 0.5 years). All patients had Class I malocclusion and had fixed orthodontic appliance treatment. The flapless technique was performed with a reinforced scalpel on the labial aspect of the mandibular incisors to separate the interproximal cortices transmucosally. Using aseptic technique, two blood samples of 20 mL were collected before and 30 to 60 seconds after the flapless technique. The blood was aseptically inoculated into culture bottles and incubated at 35°C for 2 weeks. Medium alterations showing bacterial growth were investigated by using Gram staining. The bacteria were identified by VITEK 2 (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) automated microbiology identification system. The result was analyzed statistically using the McNemar test, with P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. The intensity of bacteremia was expressed as colony-forming units per milliliter.

Results

No significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative samples were determined with respect to bacteremia (P = 0.335). Only Streptococcus oralis was detected in two postoperative samples.

Conclusion

A minimally invasive flapless accelerated orthodontic technique is not related to transitory bacteremia, as Streptococcus oralis was detected in only two postoperative samples.

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