{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T19:21:47Z","timestamp":1791573707882,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761868800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Microorganisms"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Fluoride prophylaxis is a cornerstone in preventing dental caries, a disease for which orthodontic patients are at high risk due to the reduced effectiveness of home oral hygiene and increased plaque accumulation. Recent evidence defines caries as polymicrobial, involving Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacilli, and emerging species such as Selenomonas sputigena. This prospective, randomized, controlled study evaluated professional topical fluoride in the form of gel and varnish in 68 patients aged 8\u201317 years wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. Participants were divided into three equal groups: two intervention groups and one control group. Clinical parameters (DMFT, salivary pH, PCR%) and microbiological analyses of plaque and saliva (oral Streptococci, S. mutans, S. sputigena, Lactobacilli, total bacterial count) were assessed at baseline (T0) and after 4 months (T1), following professional hygiene and fluoride application for the intervention groups. At T1, salivary pH increased in the gel group, and PCR% decreased significantly in all groups, with the most pronounced decrease observed in the varnish group. PCR analysis showed a higher rate of S. mutans and S. sputigena negativization in intervention groups. Culture-based analyses revealed reductions in oral Streptococci and Lactobacilli in intervention groups, while levels increased in controls. Overall, both clinical and microbiological variables indicated improvements in the fluoride-treated groups compared to controls, highlighting the efficacy of professional fluoride prophylaxis in orthodontic patients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13112506","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T13:55:22Z","timestamp":1762178122000},"page":"2506","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Microbiological Investigation and Clinical Efficacy of Professional Topical Fluoride Application on Streptococcus mutans and Selemonas sputigena in Orthodontic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6466-9825","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessia","family":"Pardo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology (DIPSCOMI), University of Verona, Piazzale L.A, Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-2565-1077","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefano","family":"Marcoccia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry Unit, Department of Surgery, Mater Salutis Hospital, Via Gianella 1, 37045 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Camilla","family":"Montagnini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology (DIPSCOMI), University of Verona, Piazzale L.A, Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9761-4046","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Annarita","family":"Signoriello","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology (DIPSCOMI), University of Verona, Piazzale L.A, Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1268-5233","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Messina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology (DIPSCOMI), University of Verona, Piazzale L.A, Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3791-8635","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paolo","family":"Gaibani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diagnostic and Public Health Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gloria","family":"Burlacchini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diagnostic and Public Health Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Camillo","family":"Salgarelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry Unit, Department of Surgery, Mater Salutis Hospital, Via Gianella 1, 37045 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Caterina","family":"Signoretto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diagnostic and Public Health Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicoletta","family":"Zerman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology (DIPSCOMI), University of Verona, Piazzale L.A, Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy"},{"name":"Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Hygiene Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, 37024 Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Patano, A., Malcangi, G., Sardano, R., Mastrodonato, A., Garofoli, G., Mancini, A., Inchingolo, A.D., Di Venere, D., Inchingolo, F., and Dipalma, G. 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