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Updated: May 2, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Effect of fixed orthodontic appliances on salivary microbial parameters at 6 months: a controlled observational study
Delphine Maret1, Christine Marchal-Sixou2, Jean-Noël Vergnes3
1Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Paul Sabatier, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Toulouse, France, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université Paul Sabatier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Toulouse, France.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess the microbial changes in children with fixed orthodontic appliances compared with a control group of children without orthodontic 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-seven were free of any such appliances. The follow-up was 6 months for all children. The association between orthodontic appliances and high levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp was assessed with logistic regression models, taking age, sex, pH and buffer capacity 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 high levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp (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 evolution of salivary microbial parameters in a population of children with fixed orthodontic appliances. Our results show an increase of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp values during the follow-up. The whole dental workforce should be aware that preventive measures are of paramount importance during orthodontic treatment.
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