Microbial Changes in Subgingival Plaque During Orthodontic Treatment - Literature Review

Dental plaque is considered one of the factors inducing oral cavity diseases such as caries, periodontitis, gingivitis and peri-implantitis. Treatment with orthodontic appliances is related to a change of physiological properties within the oral cavity. Hampered hygiene as well as an increased number of retentive sites result in increased accumulation of dental plaque as well as a slowing down of the spontaneous physiological processes of tooth cleaning. As a consequence, so-called orthodontic biofilm occurs that creates a range relation with other structures of the oral cavity. For over 100 years, research has been conducted aimed at an explanation of the influence of bacteria on the etiopathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Many authors have stated that changes in periodontal tissues might occur during orthodontic treatment. There are few publications referring to young children (9-14 years of age); the number of comparisons of patients treated with fixed and removable orthodontic appliances are also scarce. The objective of this paper is an attempted answer to the question whether orthodontic appliances may affect the number of bacteria which cause periodontal diseases?