Transient Bacteremia in Patients During the Orthodontic Banding Procedure

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the fitting and placement of orthodontic bands on patients induced a transient bacteremia. Twenty patients were included, and a total of 12 teeth were banded in each patient. Before any procedure was performed, a preoperative blood sample was taken. Three additional blood samples were taken throughout the procedure 30 to 90 seconds after visible hemorrhage occurred from the placement of the bands. The blood cultures were then incubated for seven days. Cultures that became dark after seven days were subcultured and incubated for 24 hours anaerobically and 24 hours aerobically in an attempt to detect the presence of bacteria. Of the 80 blood cultures taken during this study, only one preoperative blood sample became positive. However, the fact that no bacteremia was detected during the banding procedures does not conclusively exclude its presence. Until more work is done to show conclusively that a bacteremia does not occur during the banding procedure it would be advisable to follow the suggestion of the American Heart Association and prophylactically premedicate patients who are susceptible to SBE with antibiotics for those procedures that may cause hemorrhage.