Immunological prediction of complications of orthodontic treatment in convalescents following acute respiratory viral infections

Klimova A.V., Radaeva O.A., Klimov A.V.

Ogarev Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russia

Long-term non-removable orthodontic treatment may disrupt oral homeostasis and lead to damage to teeth and mucous membranes. Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) preceding treatment may aggravate dysregulation of oral mucosal immunity. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in oral fluid immune parameters during orthodontic treatment in patients recovering from ARVI with the aim of predicting the development of enamel demineralization. In 90 patients with bite pathology, the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) were determined in the oral fluid using an enzyme immunoassay before and during orthodontic treatment. The results were interpreted accounting for previous ARVI in 32 patients (group 1) and the absence of ARVI within 60 days prior to treatment in 58 patients (group 2). An increased risk of enamel demineralization was identified in Group 1, predicted by increased salivary levels of IL-17 and M-CSF, along with a decrease in sIgA over 30 days of treatment. Over 12 months of follow-up, 46.9% of patients in Group 1 and 8.7% of patients in Group 2 showed signs of enamel demineralization, consistent with the prognosis. Predicting orthodontic treatment complications based on salivary levels of IL-17, M-CSF, and sIgA is effective, especially during the recovery period after acute respiratory viral infections, and may form the basis for pathogenetic correction of oral mucosal immunity.