PREVALENCE OF ANAEROBIC MICROBIOTA IN ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS – SCOPING REVIEW

Introduction: Various appliances used in orthodontic treatment behave as plaque retentive sites which can harbor anaerobic microorganisms and this may be associated with a worsening of preexisting periodontal diseases or induce a variety of other conditions. There are contrary reports regarding the increased load of anaerobes during orthodontic treatment. This review aims to analyze the orthodontic literature regarding the prevalence of anaerobes before, during and after orthodontic treatment.Objective: To analyze the literature on the prevalence of anaerobic microbiota and its relationship with orthodontics by using the keywords “anaerobes” OR “anaerobic microbiome” OR “red complex bacteria” AND “orthodontic” OR “fixed appliance”.The Pubmed and Embase databases were searched till January 2022.Results: Orthodontic treatment increases the prevalence of anaerobic microbiota especially the orange and red complex bacteria. The removal of orthodontic appliances has shown a significant reduction in plaque along with the corresponding anaerobic pathogens.Conclusion: Proper maintenance of good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is essential to reduce the anaerobic microbial load, thus diminishing the risk of periodontal problems.