Microbial Colonisation On Vacuum-Formed Retainers With Different Surface Roughness As Constructed On Conventional Models And Three Dimensional (3D) Reconstructed Models

Detailed Summary

Vacuum-formed retainers are clear or transparent retainers, that hold the teeth in the new position after active orthodontic treatment. These custom made appliances are becoming popular these days due to the aesthetics value among patients. Vacuum-formed retainers can be made through a process that softens the clear plastic and vacuumed to follow the shape of the dental model before it cools off and hardens again. These dental models can be made from conventional method or through a 3D reconstruction process. Recently, it was found that there is no difference in terms of stability of the teeth and oral health related quality of life of the patients wearing vacuum-formed retainers constructed on either types of models. Physically, the surface roughness of the retainers appear different because the conventional models and 3D printed models are constructed in a different manner. Our interest is to determine whether the difference in surface roughness would affect microbial colonisation which can eventually affect the oral health. So this study aims to find the association between microbial colonisation and surface roughness of vacuum-formed retainers constructed on conventional models and also 3D reconstructed models.

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