Effect of fixed orthodontic appliances on salivary microbial parameters at 6 months: a controlled observational study

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the microbial changes in children with fixedorthodontic appliances compared with a control group of children withoutorthodontic treatment.

Material and Methods

Ninety-five children, aged between 12 and 16 years, participated in this study.Forty-eight subjects were fitted with fixed orthodontic appliances and forty-sevenwere free of any such appliances. The follow-up was 6 months for all children. Theassociation between orthodontic appliances and high levels ofStreptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus sppwas assessed with logistic regression models, taking age, sex, pH and buffercapacity into account.

Results

Differences at baseline between the two groups were not statistically significant.We found that wearing a fixed orthodontic appliance was associated with highlevels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillusspp (adjusted OR: 6.65, 95% CI [1.98-22.37]; 9.49, 95% CI [2.57-35.07],respectively), independently of other variables.

Conclusion

The originality of the present epidemiological study was to evaluate the evolutionof salivary microbial parameters in a population of children with fixedorthodontic appliances. Our results show an increase of Streptococcusmutans and Lactobacillus spp values during thefollow-up. The whole dental workforce should be aware that preventive measures areof paramount importance during orthodontic treatment.