COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MODERN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT METHODS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ORGANS AND TISSUES OF THE ORAL CAVITY (LITERATURE REVIEW)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-7684/2026-3-1Keywords:
orthodontic treatment, fixed bracket systems, self-ligating brackets, clear aligners, periodontium, oral microbiome, dental caries, quality of life, adverse effects.Abstract
Modern orthodontics offers patients a wide range of appliances – from fixed multibracket and self-ligating systems to clear aligners – each with its own profile of effectiveness and impact on oral tissues, which determines the need for a comparative analysis of the available data. Objective of the research. To critically review the current literature on the comparative clinical effectiveness of different orthodontic treatment modalities and to systematize the available evidence regarding their impact on the periodontium, oral microbiome, hard dental tissues, oral mucosa, and systemic health. Materials and methods. A narrative review of publications from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from recent years, addressing the comparative effectiveness of orthodontic appliances and their impact on oral organs and tissues, was conducted. Results and discussions. Clear aligners demonstrate advantages in quality of life and pain intensity at the initial stages of treatment, as well as better hygiene indices, whereas fixed appliances remain more predictable for complex tooth movements. Fixed appliances are reliably associated with biofilm accumulation, a shift of the microbiocenosis toward cariogenic and periodontopathogenic species, increased caries risk, and transient systemic hematological and immunological changes. The role of the material characteristics of appliances (ceramic, metal, self-ligating) in shaping the risk of metal-ion release and bacterial adhesion was established. Conclusions. There is no universally «optimal» type of orthodontic treatment: the choice of appliance should be based on matching the case’s clinical complexity to the risk of impact on oral tissues and the patient’s expectations.
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