Fixed appliances (FA) and clear aligners (CA) are widely used in orthodontics but may increase plaque accumulation, dental caries, and gingival inflammation. To further assess their impact on oral health, a study evaluated periodontal indices, oral microbiota, and oxidative stress in 24 orthodontic patients using FA or CA. In the study, periodontal indices and bleeding on probing were significantly higher in the FA group at three and six months, respectively, compared with the CA group. Levels of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative stress, were also significantly elevated in gingival crevicular fluid in the FA group.
Pathogenic genera such as Prevotella and Veillonella were more abundant in the FA group, whereas health-associated Rothia and Lautropia dominated in the CA group. Notably, Prevotella showed a positive correlation with 8-OHdG in the FA group. Overall,…
