title: The effects of different orthodontic appliances upon microbial communities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Orthodontic appliances can promote accumulation of dental plaque, with associated enamel decalcification or gingival inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine longer-term microbiological changes during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four orthodontic patients aged 11-14 years undergoing fixed appliance therapy were recruited into the study. Each was randomized for cross-mouth assignment of molar bands and bonded molar tubes to contralateral quadrants of the mouth. All patients received self-ligating brackets, but again using randomization, one upper lateral incisor bracket (left or right) also received an elastomeric ligature. Plaque samples from the molars and upper lateral incisors were obtained at intervals during treatment and up to 1 year after appliance removal. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rDNA microarray were used to compare plaque microbial fingerprints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plaque populations changed within 3 months of commencing treatment at all sites. The greatest differences in plaque composition were seen with self-ligating brackets with an elastomeric ligature. Post-treatment plaque associated with both types of molar attachment contained increased levels of periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Eubacterium nodatum, while Campylobacter rectus, Parvimonas micra, and Actinomyces odontolyticus were also elevated with bonds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that orthodontic treatment may cause sustained changes in plaque microbiotas and that molar bond-associated plaque may have raised disease potential.
authors.affiliation: School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soro
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Sprague
authors.forename: N W T
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Harradine
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Anezi
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherriff
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dymock
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sandy
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018441:Biofilms; D044883:Campylobacter rectus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D005051:Eubacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000382:microbiology; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D008963:Molar / Q000382:microbiology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045242:Prevotella nigrescens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers
keywords: bands and bonds; dental plaque; gingivitis; microarray; periodontal disease