Enamel demineralization with two forms of archwire ligation investigated using an in situ caries model—a pilot study

A modified in situ model to assess enamel demineralization around orthodontic devices was developed and a pilot study was conducted to evaluate two types of archwire ligation. Enamel blocks were placed in palatal removable appliances where orthodontic brackets were bonded. The brackets on one side of the appliance were ligated with elastomeric rings and those on the other side with stainless steel wires. Four volunteers (two males, two females), mean age 27 years, wore the appliances for 14 days during which time a 20 per cent sucrose solution was dripped eight times a day onto the enamel blocks. The biofilm formed around the brackets was collected for microbiological analyses and the mineral loss around the brackets was determined by cross-sectional microhardness measurement. The ligatures evaluated did not differ significantly from each other regarding biofilm weight, total bacteria, total streptococci, mutans streptococci, or lactobacilli counts (P > 0.05, Wilcoxon paired test). Enamel demineralization was also not different around the brackets for the different ligation methods (P > 0.05, split-split-plot analysis of variance). However, a statistical power analysis based on the data showed a trend to higher demineralization around brackets ligated with elastomeric rings. The developed modified in situ model may be suitable to assess the caries potential of clinical procedures used in orthodontic treatment.