Evaluation of surface-modified orthodontic wires by different concentration and dipping duration of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles

Applications of nanotechnology in orthodontics: a comprehensive review of tooth movement, antibacterial properties, friction reduction, and corrosion resistance

Nanotechnology has contributed important innovations to medicine and dentistry, and has also offered various applications to the field of orthodontics. Intraoral appliances must function in a complex environment that includes digestive enzymes, a diverse microbiome, mechanical stress, and fluctuations of pH and temperature. Nanotechnology can improve the performance of orthodontic brackets and archwires by reducing friction, inhibiting bacterial growth and biofilm formation, optimizing tooth remineralization, improving corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of metal substrates, and accelerating or decelerating orthodontic tooth movement through the application of novel nanocoatings, nanoelectromechanical systems, and nanorobots. This comprehensive review systematically explores the orthodontic applications of nanotechnology, particularly its impacts on tooth movement, antibacterial activity, friction reduction, and corrosion resistance. A search across PubMed, the Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar yielded 261 papers, of which 28 met our inclusion criteria. These selected studies highlight the significant benefits of nanotechnology in orthodontic devices. Recent clinical trials demonstrate that advancements brought by nanotechnology may facilitate the future delivery of more effective and comfortable orthodontic care.

Evaluation of the antibacterial effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles combined with acrylic laminates for functional orthodontic appliances: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles incorporated into the acrylic baseplates of the maxillary part of twin block appliances in orthodontic patients during the treatment period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients were selected randomly and divided into two groups(n = 13). Test group patients used orthodontic functional appliances containing 1% titanium dioxide nanoparticles in acrylic baseplates. Control group patients used orthodontic functional appliances without titanium dioxide nanoparticles in acrylic baseplates. Swap samples were taken from the palatal gingiva facing the fitting surface of the acrylic component of the maxillary part of a twin block appliance for each patient at five-time intervals (baseline sample, after one, two, four, and six months) and then cultured in blood agar plates to calculate bacterial colony count. The Mann‒Whitney U test and the Friedman test were used to compare data. Bonferroni correction (p value ≤ 0.05) was applied to detect significant differences.

THE RESULTS

showed a decrease in the bacterial colony count in the test group compared to the control group. Pairwise comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference in samples after four- and six-month groups (p values = 0.002 and 0.011, respectively) vs. the one-month test group. A higher statistically significant difference was observed in the six-month group (p-value = 0.037) vs. the baseline group in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The addition of 1% titanium dioxide nanoparticles to acrylic baseplates of orthodontic functional appliances significantly reduced the bacterial colony count under the base plate after at least four months of application.