Undergoing elective orthodontic treatment is known to increase people’s risk for gingivitis and dental caries development. Recent investigations of the etiology of these diseases have illuminated the central role of dysbiotic shifts in the oral microbiomes. This lecture will illuminate a novel approach that leverages orthodontic treatment to examine clinically relevant longitudinal changes in the composition and function of the supragingival microbiome and to understand mechanisms linking dysbiosis with oral disease.
Learning Objectives:
After this lecture, attendees will be able to:
Review foundational concepts for analyzing biodiversity in the oral microbiome.
Describe the relationship between microbial dysbiosis and clinical disease development in the oral cavity.
Identify features of the bacterial community (e.g., measures of diversity, individual species) that appear to underlie oral health or promote disease development.
