Bacteraemia following different orthodontic treatment procedure

Abstract EN

Background : since the occurrence of transient bacteraemia is fatal following different dental procedures in patients at-risk of bacterial endocarditis, the purpose of this research was to estimate the percentage and nature of bacteraemia following four orthodontic treatment procedures which were : an upper alginate impression, separator placement, band fitting or placement, and arch wire adjustment on a fixed appliance. Materials and methods : the study group consisted of 40 patients (25 females and 15 males) ranging from 17-25 years of age attending Orthodontic Department in the College of Dentistry / Baghdad University, and out patients department from private clinic.

The 40 patients were divided into four groups (10 patients each).

A cannula was inserted into either the left or right antecubital fossa using an aseptic technique.

A 5ml of blood was taken immediately before orthodontic treatment procedure and a second 5ml sample was taken 1-2 minutes after the procedure. Results : the blood samples showed a percentage of bacteraemia of 50 %, 40 %, 30 %, and 20 % in cases of post-band placement, post-separator placement, post-arch wire adjustment, and postalginate impression procedures respectively. Conclusion : this investigation demonstrated that the placement of separator and fitting of band procedures could cause a significant bacteraemia, thus these procedures for patients at–risk of bacterial endocarditis should be placed in consideration, and prescribe the necessarily antibiotic coverage.