Effect of orthodontic treatment on the supragingival microbiome

Orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances can be associated with an increased risk of developing gingivitis and white spot lesions (WSLs). Clear aligners (CA) are a removable alternative to full fixed appliances (FA) and have been suggested to pose less risk to oral health. However, there is little evidence to support CA having an advantage over FA with regards to oral hygiene maintenance and oral health.The aim of this work was to determine and compare the clinical oral health outcomes and supragingival microbiome composition of patients treated with full fixed appliances (FA) and clear aligner therapy (CA).