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

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.