Characterization of Supragingival Plaque Microbiomes in Female Patients Treated with Removable Aligners and Fixed Appliances

This study aimed to investigate the impact of removable aligners and fixed appliances on the supragingival bacterial communities in female patients. Supragingival plaque samples from 48 female individuals underwent microbiome analysis (16S rRNA gene sequencing) using PacBio Sequel sequencing. The study included adults without orthodontic treatment needs as the control group (Group C), and patients with comparable initial orthodontic conditions who received treatment. The treatment involved either traditional fixed brackets or Invisalign aligners . Bioinformatics methods were used for data analysis.The observation points to the impact of orthodontic appliance on the oral microbial community, highlighting the difference between traditional braces (Group Brackets) and clear aligners in terms of the predominance of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. This emphasizes the importance of considering the microbiological effects when choosing orthodontic appliance and underscores the need for tailored oral hygiene practices for individuals undergoing these treatments.