EVALUATION OF INSERTION LOSS AND DIVERSITY OF PERIODONTOPATHOGENS IN PATIENTS WITH CONTROLLED PERIODONTITIS DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

Abstract

Introduction: Orthodontic treatment, while beneficial for correcting dental misalignments, can alter the oral environment in ways that may influence periodontal health. Objectives: This study aimed to assess clinical periodontal parameters and analyze microbial changes in the subgingival biofilm before (T0) and after six months (T2) of orthodontic treatment of patients with controlled periodontitis (GDP) compared to healthy individuals (GC). Materials and Methods: The study included ten patients GDP and ten GC. Clinical parameters were measured at two visits. Biofilm samples were collected and analyzed for periodontal pathogens: Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Treponema denticola (Td), and Tannerella forsythia (Tf) using Real-Time PCR. Results: In the GDP group, probing depth significantly decreased between visits (p<0.05). Tf was the most frequently detected pathogen in both visits, while other bacteria were detected in less than 30% of samples. At T2, Pg was undetected, and Aa was found in only one sample, while Fn and Td detections increased. In the GC group, fewer than 40% of samples showed Pg, Aa, and Fn at T1, with Tf and Td more common. At T2, Fn and Tf detection increased, while Aa and Td decreased. No significant differences were found between the groups or visits (p<0.05). Conclusion: Orthodontic treatment appears to positively influence periodontal health in controlled periodontitis patients, as shown by the reduction in probing depth. The microbial shifts suggest that while some pathogens persist, others, like P. gingivalis, decrease with improved periodontal management.