Abstract:

Objectives: Bacterial biofilm is considered as the initiating factor for gingival and periodontal diseases. Orthodontic appliances is considered as a risk factor that might facilitate plaque accumulation, around teeth. The aims of this study were to detect the correlation between several periodontal pathogens & periodontal inflammation parameters and fixed orthodontic appliances.

Periodontally healthy subjects 32 (14 M, 18 F) with a mean age of 17.5 years (range: 14-28 years) attending the orthodontic clinic were recruited. Clinical periodontal parameters (plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing pocket depth (PPD)) were measured and plaque samples were collected before bonding the orthodontic appliances (T0) and three months later (T1). Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis (PCR) was conducted on collected samples.

Results: Periodontal parameters increased generally at T1. The correlation analysis demonstrated that PI, BOP were strongly correlated at T0 and very strongly correlated at T1. However PPD was strongly correlated with BOP only at T1. Regarding the bacterial concentration results, T.f. had the lowest mean concentration with 0.66 and 1.47 DNA copy/sample at baseline, and following three months respectively. On the other hand, highest count was for P.g. with a mean of  3.02*10⁴ and 106*10⁶ DNA copy/sample at baseline, and following three months respectively.

Conclusions: Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances showed highest concentrations of periodontal pathogens which might confirm that orthodontic appliances contributes in the periodontal inflammation. Accordingly, oral hygiene measures should be emphasized for fixed orthodontic patients.