Microbiological characterisation of the colonisation by Candida sp in patients with orthodontic fixed appliances and evaluation of host responses in saliva.

Objectives: We investigated the colonisation by Candida spp in patients using orthodontic fixed appliances by characterising the isolated Candida strains and by evaluating the host oral mucosa response through the measure of human β-defensins 3 (HBD-3) expression and Interleukin-1ß/IL-10.

Methods: Ninety patients were enrolled after signing an informed consent. Prevalence, susceptibility to fluconazole, genotyping and oral fungal burden of Candida sp.