Evaluation Of Change In Ph Of Saliva Of Orthodontic Patients With Elastomeric Vs Stainless Steel Ligatures: An In-Vivo Study

Abstract

Aims and Objectives:

• To evaluate the change in salivary pH of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with archwire ligation using two techniques of ligation namely stainless steel ligatures and elastomeric modules.
• To compare the change in pH of saliva in the same patients due to the effect of stainless steel ligature vs elastomeric modules.

Materials and Methods: 10 patients (18-30 age group) undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Rajarajeswari Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore.

All subjects will be treated with straight wire appliances using MBT bracket system. Alignment and leveling are to be initiated with round nickel-titanium archwires and treatment will proceed as required for each patient.

Saliva samples will be collected from the 10 subjects according to the inclusion criteria. Samples will be collected at specific intervals of time for each patient with ligation done using both SS as well as EM ligature.

Results: Salivary pH level was significantly lesser at T3 time interval as compared to T0, T1 and T2 time intervals and the mean differences were statistically significant.

However, the mean salivary pH levels did not demonstrate significant differences between T0, T1 and T2 time intervals.

Conclusion: In short term evaluation, the EM ligation showed significant decrease in salivary pH level as compared to SS ligature wherein the salivary pH was relatively stable.