Effect of orthodontic bonding steps on the initial adhesion of mutans streptococci in the presence of saliva.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that orthodontic bonding has no effect on the initial adhesion of mutans streptococci (MS) in the presence of saliva. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hydroxyapatite (HA) and orthodontic adhesive (AD) disks were prepared to a uniform size. HA disks were etched with 37% phosphoric acid (HE, etched group). Some of the HE disks were coated with Transbond XT primer and light cured (HP, primed group). Transbond Plus SEP was applied to a third set of HA disks, dried, and light cured (SEP, self-etching primer group). Adhesion assays were performed using two MS strains in the presence of fluid-phase or surface-adsorbed unstimulated whole saliva (UWS). The MS adhesion patterns were examined by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS MS adhesion was influenced by the bonding steps and the presence of UWS. UWS treatment decreased MS adhesion. However, surface-adsorbed UWS resulted in slightly less inhibition of MS adhesion than fluid-phase UWS. MS adhesion was significantly greater for HE than for the other groups. There were interaction effects between the UWS treatment and surface groups. MS adhesion to HP and AD was significantly diminished in the presence of surface-adsorbed or fluid-phase UWS compared with adhesion to HA, HE, or SEP. CONCLUSION The hypothesis is rejected. Our results suggest that MS adhesion is significantly influenced by the bonding procedure used, and the application of conventional primers for the bracket bonding can inhibit MS adhesion to tooth surfaces in the presence of UWS.