Microflora profiling of crevices around titanium orthodontic anchor plates

The aim of this study was to clarify the microflora in crevices around titanium orthodontic anchor plates using anaerobic culture method and molecular biological technique for bacterial identification, and to compare microbial composition between crevices around anchor plates and gingival crevices. Samples from crevices around titanium anchor plates and healthy gingival crevices were cultured anaerobically, and the isolated bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. The bacterial density of the crevices was lower than that of healthy gingival crevices. In healthy plate crevices of seven subjects, out of 184 strains isolated as predominant bacteria, 108 were anaerobic bacteria, while 73 were facultative bacteria. In inflamed plate crevices of three subjects, out of 133 strains isolated as predominant bacteria, 110 were anaerobic bacteria. On the other hand, in healthy gingival crevices of seven subjects, out of 146 strains isolated as predominant bacteria, 98 were facultative bacteria, while 45 were anaerobic bacteria. These results suggest that the environment in crevices around titanium orthodontic anchor plates is anaerobic and supportive of the growth of anaerobes, which may trigger inflammation of tissue around the plates.