Abstract
The impact of self-ligating brackets on periodontal health remains uncertain, particularly regarding colonization by key pathogens such as aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and porphyromonas gingivalis. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate microbial changes in 40 orthodontic patients fitted with self-ligating brackets. Subgingival plaque samples were collected at baseline, 1 month and 3 months and analyzed using real-time PCR. Results showed a significant rise in P. gingivalis and a moderate increase in A. actinomycetemcomitans, with the highest accumulation observed around posterior brackets. Thus, we show that self-ligating brackets may favor pathogen colonization, highlighting the importance of strict oral hygiene measures to reduce periodontal risks.