Editorial Type: review-article
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Online Publication Date: 29 Aug 2025

Orthodontic treatment and oral microbiota changes: a systematic review of oral dysbiosis revealed by 16S rRNA gene analysis

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Article Category: Review Article
DOI: 10.2319/112724-978.1
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ABSTRACT

Objectives

Evaluate the changes in oral microbiota linked to orthodontic treatment by analyzing the 16S rRNA gene.

Materials and Methods

A total of 22 articles was included in the systematic review. The methodological quality of these studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for nonrandomized studies and the Risk of Bias tool for randomized studies.

Results

Orthodontic appliances significantly influenced the composition of oral microbiota. Specifically, fixed orthodontic appliances were linked to an increase in periodontopathogenic bacteria associated with various systemic diseases. In contrast, transparent aligners correlated with an increase in Streptococcus species.

Conclusions

In this study, we evaluated the changes in oral microbiota associated with orthodontic treatment by analyzing the 16S rRNA gene. Results revealed significant alterations in oral microbiota following orthodontic treatment; however, significant variability among studies prevents firm conclusions. Additional research is essential to clarify the effects on oral health.

Copyright: © 2025 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc. 2025

Contributor Notes

Corresponding author: Sara Di Nicolantonio, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila 67100, Italy (e-mail: sara.dinicolantonio@graduate.univaq.it)
Received: 27 Nov 2024
Accepted: 23 Jul 2025
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