EVALUATION OF DISINFECTION METHODS FOR SILICONE INTERCEPTION DEVICES IN ORTHODONTICS: COMBINING UVC LIGHT AND ANTIBACTERIAL TABLETS

Emilia Brăilă , Vlad Tiberiu Alexa, Atena Galuscan, Ștefania Dinu, Delia Abrudan-Luca, Lucian Floare, Daniela Jumanca

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2025.2.17.63

ABSTRACT

Aim of Study: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of two disinfection methods—chemical-based cleaning with antibacterial tablets and a combination of UVC light and tablets—on silicone interception devices used in interceptive orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: Four devices were sectioned into three equal parts and divided into three groups: control (untreated), chemically cleaned (MyOClean antibacterial tablets), and disinfected with UVC light and tablets. Microbial samples were collected, cultured on UTI Chromogenic and Blood Agar media, and analyzed for bacterial growth and antibiotic susceptibility. Results and Discussion: The control group showed bacterial positivity within 24 hours, whereas the chemically and UVC-treated groups delayed bacterial growth to 48 hours, demonstrating the effectiveness of these methods in reducing bacterial contamination. Antibiograms of Staphylococcus aureus revealed high susceptibility to most antibiotics, with intermediate susceptibility noted for ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The combination of UVC light and antibacterial tablets showed statistically superior disinfection outcomes (p ≤ 0.05) and represents a promising strategy for improving the hygiene of orthodontic appliances. These findings provide evidence-based recommendations for reducing microbial contamination and addressing antimicrobial resistance in orthodontic practice.