A cytological analysis of the oral mucosa adjacent to orthodontic devices

Objectives: The objective of this study, was to evaluate the cytometry and cytomorphology of oral mucosa epithelial cells adjacent to orthodontic accessories using liquid-based exfoliative cytology. Materials and Methods: We placed metallic brackets on the upper pre-molars with stainless steel wires and metal or elastic ties on 20 people of both sexes, with an average age of 22.7 years. We evaluated nucleus area (NA), cytoplasm area (CA), and NA/CA ratio before installation (T0, baseline), 30 days after installation (T1), and 30 days after the accessories were removed (T2). Results: We verified a reduction in NA and an increase in CA with both types of ties at T1 ( P P Conclusions: The orthodontic appliance causes adaptive cell changes characterized by an increased level of keratinization of the oral mucosa, with a tendency to return to the normal state after removal of the mechanical stimulus of the orthodontic devices.