Identification of bone morphogenetic protein 4 in the saliva after the placement of fixed orthodontic appliance.

Background: This study was conducted in order to explore the effects of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) on the changes of salivary proteome. This prospective observational pilot study recruited 12 healthy teenage boys with malocclusion treated with a fixed orthodontic appliance and 6 appropriate control participants. Saliva samples were collected a day before and at 0, 2, 7, and 30 days after initialization of treatment, corresponding to the initial, lag, and post-lag phases of OTM.

THE ROLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN DEFINING SALIVARY PROTEIN COMPOSITION FOLLOWING PLACEMENT OF FIXED ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES - BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES.

Human saliva is rich in proteins of variable functions (e.g., enzymes, immunoglobulins, cytokines) and origin (blood plasma, salivary glands, or oral microflora).