During orthodontic treatment, plaque tends to form around fixed orthodontic appliances, which increases the risk of dental caries. It has been reported that ultarafine bubble with a diameter <1 μm water (UFBW) effectively removes organic matter. In addition, UFBW is harmless and stable for at least one month with refrigeration. The aim of this study was to examine the plaque-removal effect of ultrafine bubble water (UFBW) to establish a new method to prevent dental caries in patients during orthodontic treatment procedures. The in vitro study examined different concentrations of UFBW and compared the cleaning effect to that of existing mouthwashes. High-concentration UFBW (HUFBW) was most effective in cleaning. In the subsequent clinical study, HUFBW showed a significantly higher plaque-removal effect compared to distilled water (p<0.01). Thus, supplementary use of HUFBW could decrease the incidence of dental caries during orthodontic treatment.
Keywords: Orthodontic appliance; PVR; Removal of plaque; Ultrafine bubble water.