Dynamics of microbial population in orthodontic patients with special reference to biofilm formation and its regulation

Abstract

The presence of orthodontic appliances in the oral cavity leads to several physicochemical disturbances and is thought to alter the growth of microbes, and the formation of biofilms, as more retention sites formed by them are congenial for plaque formation resulting in several complications needing periodical monitoring and clinical attention.The growth of microbiota and formation of dental plaque results in a drop of pH that causes enamel demineralization, caries development, and white spot lesions formation when hygiene is compromised. As there appears to be a paucity of comprehensive data among the Indian population, in this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of orthodontic appliances on the microbial diversity in consideration with the existing oral hygiene status newlineii. Dental appliances made of metals are extensively used in orthodontic treatment in patients with malocclusion. These orthodontic appliances, are constantly exposed to variation in several factors including, but not limited to, in physicochemical parameters, mechanical pressure, abrasion and exposure to microbial activity and stagnation, that could not only affect the structural and chemical integrity of their metal components but also, facilitate leaching of metal ions in the oral cavity. As the data on metal ion release from dental appliances in in vivo are sparse, this study is planned to quantitatively assess the presence of metal ions in the saliva and dental plaque of participants in fixed orthodontic therapy, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). newline newline