SynthesisEuropean journal of orthodontics2023
Effects of probiotics on the oral health of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in European journal of orthodontics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis 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
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Clinical Applications of Probiotics in Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics-A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2025Pooled it
- Evaluation and comparison of antimicrobial property of chitosan nanoparticles on nickel-titanium archwires: an in vivo study.Dental press journal of orthodontics · 2026Trial
- State-of-the-Art Review on Probiotics, Synbiotics, and Microbial Metabolites: Molecular Mechanisms Shaping Host Immunity, Metabolic Health, and Chronic Disease Prevention.Molecular nutrition & food research · 2026Review
- A Pilot Study on the Evaluation of Hetafu Mouthwash in Oral Biofilm of Orthodontic Patients: A Clinical Trial.Cureus · 2026Article
- The effects of probiotics intervention on oral health outcomes: a comprehensive umbrella review of meta-analyses.Frontiers in oral health · 2026Review
- Article
- Effect of Probiotic Supplements on the Oral Microbiota-A Narrative Review.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectiveThe effect of probiotics on oral health maintenance in orthodontic patients remains controversial. The aim of the study is to systematically review and assess the effects of probiotics on the oral health and microbiome of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. SEARCH METHODS AND SELECTION CRITERIA: Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global databases were searched from their inception until June 2022. Randomised controlled trials that assessed the effects of probiotics on clinical and microbial outcomes in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data screening and collection were performed, and the risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. The meta-analysis evaluated the effects of probiotics on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus counts. The quality of the evidence from the meta-analyses was assessed with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).
resultsA total of 405 records were identified, of which 15 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 4 in the meta-analysis. The patients in all the included studies were treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. Results regarding clinical outcomes were controversial; four out of five studies reported no significant changes in plaque in the probiotic group (P > .05), and two out of three studies reported no significant changes in the gingival index (P > .05). Regarding microbial outcomes, the meta-analysis results revealed that probiotics significantly increased the likelihood of reducing the abundance of S. mutans to below 105 CFU/ml (risk ratio: 2.05 [1.54, 2.72], P < .001) and reduced the likelihood of increasing the abundance of S. mutans to beyond 106 CFU/ml (risk ratio: 0.48 [0.28, 0.83], P = .009). However, the quality of evidence according to the GRADE was moderate. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: There is insufficient evidence to determine the clinical benefits of probiotics as a supplement for the oral health of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. However, probiotics may have benefits in reducing the salivary S. mutans counts in orthodontic patients. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42022366650).
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