Microbiota changes in the periodontium in response to orthodontic forces

Abstract

Nowadays, there is a growing demand for orthodontic treatment in both adolescents and adults, with the main purpose of improving facial aesthetics. However, orthodontic treatment is not free of risks to the patient since it promotes the accumulation of plaque and can therefore have a negative impact on both dental hard tissues and the periodontium. For these reasons, quantitative and qualitative changes in oral microbiota in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment have been a major topic in the recent literature, which reports an increase in periodontal pathogens during orthodontic treatment. The aim of this narrative review is to comprehensively summarize the effects described in the literature of various orthodontic appliances upon the periodontium, with a special focus on the microbial community composition.