Efficacy of Immunoglobulin Y Chewable Tablets on Streptococcus mutans Count in Patients Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of commercially available immunoglobulin Y (IgY) chewable tablets on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) count in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Participants aged between 12 and 19 years who had fixed, nonextraction orthodontic treatment with no carious lesion were included in the study and advised to take IgY chewable tablet for 15 days (one course) and saliva samples were collected from the patients on day 61, 91, and 121 days from the placement of fixed appliance, to assess its ability in reduction of S. mutans count. The collected samples were processed, and S. mutans levels were estimated. The results were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, and the repeated measures test was used to compare different groups.

RESULTS

Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) chewable tablet was found to be significantly effective in decreasing S. mutans counts in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment during the study period.

CONCLUSION

Oral passive immunotherapy via egg yolk antibody IgY effectively decreased the S. mutans level, which was found to increase during orthodontic fixed appliance treatment.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The IgY chewable tablets can be used as an adjuvant to reduce S. mutans counts and provide basic oral hygiene measures.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Muthukumaran M, Jayaprakash J, Arangannal P, et al. Efficacy of Immunoglobulin Y Chewable Tablets on Streptococcus mutans Count in Patients Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):265-269.