Observational studyPloS one2020
Salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli and other salivary indices in patients wearing clear aligners versus fixed orthodontic appliances: An observational study.
Observational study in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
46 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 72 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of Clear Aligners on the Oral Microbiome: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Effects of probiotics on the oral health of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of orthodontics · 2023Pooled it
- White spot lesions, plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria in clear aligners compared to fixed orthodontic treatment. A systematic review and meta- analysis.BMC oral health · 2023Pooled it
- Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Oral health & preventive dentistry · 2021Pooled it
- Role of Probiotics in Oral Health Maintenance Among Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Therapy: a Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2020Pooled it
- The effect of nano silver fluoride, self-assembling peptide and sodium fluoride varnish on salivary cariogenic bacteria: a randomized controlled clinical trial.Clinical oral investigations · 2024Trial
- Effect of 8% arginine toothpaste on Streptococcus mutans in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment: randomized controlled trial.Dental press journal of orthodontics · 2022Trial
- Salivary parameters in individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners: a scoping review.Evidence-based dentistry · 2026Article
- Effects of clear aligner cleaning agents on Streptococcus mutans biofilms and thermoplastic surface integrity: an in vitro study.Odontology · 2026Article
- Longitudinal analysis of bite force and strength of orofacial tissues during orthodontic aligner treatment.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2026Article
- Femtosecond laser-induced micro/nanostructures loaded with silver nanoparticles on clear aligners prevent bacterial infection.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- The impact of clear aligners therapy on dental caries: a systematic review.Frontiers in dental medicine · 2026Review
- Impact of hydrogen peroxide photolysis on viable bacterial count and composition of in vivo dental biofilm-an ex vivo study.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- In Vitro Evaluation of Biofilm Formation by Oral Microorganisms on Clear Aligner Materials: Influence of Mouthwash Exposure.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2025Article
- Comparison of Long-Term Oral Bacterial Flora Before and After Orthognathic Surgery in Surgical Orthodontic Treatment.Dentistry journal · 2025Article
- Mechanical and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Chitosan-Coated Elastomeric Orthodontic Modules.Dentistry journal · 2025Article
- Bacterial Colonization of Orthodontic Devices (Molar Bands, Nance Buttons, and Acrylic Plates) and Its Impact on the Marginal Periodontium and Palatal Fibromucosa in Teenagers: A Cross-Sectional Clinical-Microbiological Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
- Comparison of Oral Microbial Profile Among Patients Undergoing Clear Aligner and Fixed Orthodontic Therapies for the Treatment of Malocclusions: An Updated Review.Dentistry journal · 2025Review
- Time-dependent microbiome dynamics in orthodontic thermoplastic materials: comparing PETG and TPU.Clinical oral investigations · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThis study aimed to investigate salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacilli, and other salivary indices in subjects wearing clear aligners (CA) in comparison with multibrackets orthodontic appliances (MB). MATERIALS AND
methodsA sample of 80 participants (46 males and 34 females) was included in the study: 40 subjects (aged 20.4±1.7 years) were treated with CA, and 40 (aged 21.3±1.7 years) were treated with MB. Plaque index (PI), salivary flow, buffering power of saliva, and salivary levels of S. mutans and Lactobacilli were evaluated prior to start of orthodontic treatment (t0), after 3 months (t1) and 6 months (t2).
resultsCA patients maintained PI at level 0 over time, while MB participants experienced a statistically significant increasing trend of PI over time. In addition, at t2, 37.5% of MB participants (15 subjects over 40) showed risky salivary levels (CFU/ml>105) of S. mutans (odds ratio = 7.40; 95% C.I. = 1.94-28.25; chi-square = 10.32; p = 0.001) as well as Lactobacilli (odds ratio = 23.40; 95% C.I. = 2.91-188.36; chi-square = 15.31; p = 0.0001).
conclusionsComparing all the data, subjects treated with CA achieved lower salivary microbial colonization after 6 months of treatment compared with MB. Different additional strategies for plaque control and salivary microbial colonization must be triggered considering the type of orthodontic appliance.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.