Electrochemical behaviour of microbes on orthodontic wires

The aim of the present study is to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of orthodontic wires in artificial saliva with and without bacteria. Four factors were considered to characterize the bacteria present in the saliva, viz. urban and rural groups of vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The results showed that among the heterotrophic bacterial isolates, Gram-positive species dominated over the Gram-negative species in the ratio of 4 : 1. The samples also confirmed the presence of sulphate reducing bacteria. Moreover, chemolithotrophs like manganese and iron oxidizing bacteria and acid producing bacteria were isolated and identified in the saliva. The bacterial strains were isolated and identified based on their morphological, physiological and biochemical characterstics. Nesseria sicca, Eikenella corrodens, Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia coli, Wolinella sp., Campylobacter sp., Kurthia sp., Lactobacillus acidophilus, Rothia dentocariosa, Streptococcus salivarius, Arachnia propionica, Stomatococcus mucilogenosus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus roseus, Corynebacterium maturochotii, Brocothrix sp., Listeria sp., Staphylococcus sp., Gallionella sp., Legionella sp., and Thiobacillus sp. were noticed in the saliva. Polarization and impedance studies were carried out for orthodontic wires, investigating the electrochemical behaviour of stainless steel in the presence of microbes. On the basis of electrochemical investigations, it was concluded that NiTi-0.016 and SS-26 gauge were better candidate material for dental applications.