Correlation of Transient Bacteremia with Duration of Orthodontic Treatment

Objective: The study was conducted to find out the correlation if any between the duration of wearing orthodontic appliances and the intensity of transient bacteremia. Materials and methods: Study has been carried out on 50 subjects (21 males and 29 females), age ranging from 11 to 21 years, categorized in the separate groups with 25 subjects in each group of fixed (E1) and active removable appliances (E2). Both groups have been further divided into two subgroups separately, according to treatment duration; subgroup A, where treatment duration was less than 1 year and subgroup B, where treatment duration was more than 1 year. To find out transient bacteremia, blood samples from median cubital vein were collected before and after 5 minutes of brushing in all groups. Blood was cultured to observe growth of aerobic and anaerobic bacterial strains. Results: Study indicates no association between treatment duration and transient bacteremia in Group E1 but there was significant association between treatment duration and aerobic bacterial growth in Group E2. Findings reveal that the transient bacteremia was found more in orthodontic patients wearing appliances less than 1 year than those wearing appliances more than 1 year. Conclusion: There is significant association between treatment duration and transient bacteremia in case of active removable appliances. Further the duration of fixed orthodontic appliances in patients following proper oral hygiene instructions has no effect on transient bacteremia.