Improvement of the antibacterial properties of acrylic resins, used in the construction of removable orthodontic appliances, is an important strategy to reduce the incidence of caries and oral diseases in orthodontic treatments. The addition of antimicrobial agents to acrylic resins is one of the effective methods to enhance the antimicrobial properties of these materials. However, one main concern is that modification of acrylic resin has negative effects on its mechanical properties. Recently, chitosan nanoparticles (NPs), as biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharides with remarkable antimicrobial properties, have been used in different areas of dentistry and medicine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding chitosan NPs on the mechanical properties of a cold-cure orthodontic acrylic resin. The chitosan NPs were added to the acrylic resin in various weight percentages: 0% (control), 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4%. The flexural strength, compressive strength, Vickers microhardness, and impact strength measurements were performed for all five groups. The results showed that adding up to 1% (w/w) chitosan NPs to an acrylic resin had no significant negative effects on its flexural strength and compressive strength, while it decreased these parameters at weight percentages of 2% and 4% (w/w). The results also revealed that modification of acrylic resin with chitosan NPs up to 4% had no significant negative effects on the microhardness and impact strength of acrylic resin. In conclusion, the addition of chitosan NPs up to 1% (w/w) had no significant negative effects on the mechanical properties of cold-cure acrylic resin.

Background: Deep bite is known as one of the most common malocclusions, and its treatment and retention are often challenging. The use of mini-screws has been suggested as an ideal method for the intrusion of incisors in deep-bite patients. Still, there are conflicting reports regarding the superiority of this method compared to other common treatments. Aim: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of the intrusion of anterior teeth by skeletal anchorage in deep bite patients. Methods: From the beginning to 15 September 2022, articles on the topic of interest were searched in electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane’s CENTRAL. Additionally, a hand search for pertinent studies and a search of the grey literature were carried out. After the selection of eligible studies, data extraction was performed using piloted forms. Inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses were used to combine the outcome measures of dental indices, skeletal cephalometric indices, and dental cephalometric indices. Results: A total of 15 studies (6 RCT; 9 CCT) were included in the systematic review and 14 were used in the meta-analyses. The differences in overbite changes (MD = −0.45, p = 0.04), true incisor intrusion [u1-pp] (MD = −0.62, p = 0.003) and molar extrusion [u6-pp] (MD = −0.40, p = 0.01) were statistically significant and TADs showed better treatment results than other intrusion methods (segmented intrusion arch, utility arch, J hook headgear). No significant differences regarding overjet, molar and incisor tipping, and skeletal indices between mini-screw and other intrusion methods could be found. Conclusion: The use of mini-screws leads to lower overbite and higher true intrusion (about 0.45 and 0.62 mm, respectively) compared to the use of other methods for intruding upper incisors. Furthermore, the effect of TAD on extrusion of molar teeth is less (by 0.4 mm) than other methods.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticle (NP) incorporation on shear bond strength (SBS) and antibacterial property of orthodontic composites. A total of 100 mounted premolar teeth were randomly divided into five groups. In group 1 (control), the brackets were bonded to the teeth using the GC Ortho Connect orthodontic composite, while the brackets of groups 2 to 5 were bonded by the GC Ortho Connect orthodontic composite that contained 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% weight percentages (w/w) of MgO NPs, respectively and then the SBS was measured. In the following, we evaluated the antibacterial properties of the MgO NP-containing composite on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) bacteria by the direct contact test method. According to results, there were no significant changes in the SBS as the MgO NP concentration was increased up to 1%, while the SBSs of the 2% and 4% MgO NPs were decreased when compared to the other three groups. The outcomes of the direct contact test indicated the case of 1% as being the minimum ratio of MgO NPs, which almost caused the entire annihilation of the S. mutans bacteria. In conclusion, the orthodontic composite containing 1% MgO NPs can display a significant antibacterial effect against S. mutans bacteria without inducing any negative effect on the SBS.

Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of colloidal selenium nanoparticles in chitosan solution (Cts-Se-NPs) against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Candida albicans. Material and Methods: Cts-Se-NPs solution was prepared using a simple chemical reduction method. The MIC and MBC against S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and C. albicans were determined using the broth dilution assay. Results: The Cts-Se-NPs had remarkable antimicrobial activity against S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and C. albicans. The MIC values of the Cts-Se-NPs were lowest for S. mutans (0.068 mg/ml) compared to L. acidophilus (0.137 mg/ml), and C. albicans (0.274 mg/ml). The MBC values of the Cts-Se-NPs against the microorganisms after one, two, six, and 24 hours indicated that the concentration of 0.274 mg/ml of Cts-Se-NPs completely killed S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and C. albicans after one, two, and six hours, respectively. At the concentration of 0.137 mg/ml, S. mutans and L. acidophilus were killed after six and 24 hours, respectively. Conclusion: These findings encourage the potential use of Cts-Se-NPs in dentistry, while further clinical research is required in this area.

Aim: This in vitro study was aimed to evaluate the effect of adding different concentrations of chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) and TiO ₂ NPs on the shear bond strength (SBS) of an orthodontic adhesive. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 72 extracted human premolars were embedded in an acrylic resin and randomly allocated into four groups of 18 specimens. In group 1 (control), brackets were bonded to the tooth with the Transbond XT orthodontic adhesive. In groups 2, 3, and 4, 0.5% chitosan NPs and 0.5% TiO ₂ NPs, 1% chitosan NPs and 1% TiO ₂ NPs, and 1.5% chitosan NPs and 1.5% TiO ₂ NPs were added to Transbond XT, respectively. Then, the brackets were bonded by the modified adhesive. The SBS and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of each group were assessed with a universal testing machine. The SBS test results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by the posthoc Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test. The Kruskal–Wallis test was also applied to evaluate the ARI scores. Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference between groups 1, 2, and 3, but SBS decreased significantly in group 4. With increasing the concentration of NPs up to 1% chitosan NPs and 1% TiO ₂ NPs, SBS did not change significantly. However, in 1.5% chitosan NPs and 1.5% TiO ₂ NPs, SBS decreased compared to the other three groups. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of ARI scores. Conclusion: It is concluded that the orthodontic composite containing 1% chitosan NPs and 1% TiO ₂ NPs has adequate SBS for use in the clinical setting.