Debonding of orthodontic appliance changes salivary physicochemical properties and favors regression of active caries lesions: A 13‐week follow‐up study

AIM This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate whether orthodontic appliances removal (OAR) combined with caries-preventive strategies and fluoride varnishes alters salivary physicochemical properties, changes the activity of carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VIACT ) and α-amylase (α-AMLACT ), and favors the regression of active carious lesions (ACL). DESIGN Twenty-two individuals aged between 13 and 24 years old were assessed for the presence of visible biofilm, daily sugar exposure, caries activity, salivary flow rate (SFR), pH, buffering capacity (BC), and CA VIACT and α-AMLACT activity at baseline, and 1, 5 and 13 weeks after OAR. Variables were assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance, Cochran's Q and McNemar's test, and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS We verified a significant decrease in the number of ACL at the 5-week (29% reduction) and at the 13-week follow-up (58% reduction). At the 5 and 13-week follow-up, the percentage of visible biofilm and sugar exposure decreased, whereas the salivary pH and α-AMLACT activity significantly increased. BC and CA VIACT remained unchanged throughout the follow-up. CONCLUSION OAR combined with caries-preventive strategies and fluoride varnishes favored the regression of active carious lesions and increased salivary pH and α-AMLACT activity, whereas buffering capacity and CA VIACT remained stable.