Microbiological and clinical periodontal effects of fixed orthodontic appliances in pediatric patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of microbiota in ten patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. For each patient clinical examination of gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were performed at the first molars at: baseline (T1), 2 (T2), 4 (T3) and 12 weeks (T4). At the same time subgingival plaque and tongue samples were taken for the microbiological study.