Background Conventional brackets are often used during orthodontic therapy patients with malocclusion. Nevertheless, their complicated construction greatly inhibits oral hygiene, which predisposes to the increased carriage of the microbiota. It seems that orthodontic brackets could be a reservoir of yeast and predisposing to develop oral candidosis. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess changes in Candida species prevalence and periodontal parameters after orthodontic brackets placement in patients who received oral hygiene instruction; to determine role of elastic ligatures in those changes; to characterize isolated yeasts according to their ability to biofilm formation.
Patients/Methods 17 participants (average age 17±7 years) have been monitored by taking oral rinses, elastomeric ligatures samples and evaluation of API and GBI Indexes before and after placement of orthodontic conventional brackets for 12 weeks. Isolated yeasts was counted and used to the biofilm formation assay.
Results 116 samples (67 oral rinses and 49 orthodontic elastomers) were collected. 51% of patients were carriers of Candida in which C. albicans was the most common species. The average number of colonies (CFU/ml) obtained from oral rinses showed an upward trend depending on duration of the study and some correlation with periodontal indexes (API, GBI) was found. One third of the analysed strains have shown ability to form greater biofilm than control strain.
Conclusions Orthodontic ligatures surface permit biofilms creation and orthodontic brackets change dynamic oral microbiota. Maintaining proper oral hygiene is crucial for every orthodontic patient.