Supragingival microbial profiles in caries-free and caries-active adolescents treated with fixed orthodontics

Increases in <i>S. mutans</i> and bacteria from the genera <i>Neisseria, Haemophilus, Granulicatella,</i> and <i>Abiotrophia</i> were strongly associated with the caries-active status of adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. While increases in <i>Selenomonas_3, Oribacterium, Dialister,</i> and <i>Olsenella</i> were linked to caries-free status. These findings highlight the importance of managing the oral microbiome in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances, as certain bacterial species can serve as indicators of caries risk.