Background: Long-term orthodontic device use fosters an environment that is conducive to the growth of normal oral microbiota, especially Candida species, which can raise the risk of periodontal diseases. The study's objective was to determine how common Candida spp. were in individuals who had and did not have orthodontic equipment.

Materials and methods: Two hundred and fifty samples were collected from individuals who visited the Specialized Dental Center in Kirkuk Governorate, as well as some outpatient clinics. Each sample consisted of two swabs: one from the oral cavity and the other from areas of caries and root canal inflammation. Participants were divided into two groups: those wearing braces and those without. It was confirmed that all participants had not taken any antibiotics for at least two days prior to the swabs being taken. Participants ranged in age from 3 to 70 years and included both men and women. Samples were collected between October 1, 2024, and January 7, 2025, and were then immediately sent to the laboratory for microbial culture.

Result: The results of the current study indicate that out of 202 dental swabs taken from teeth with braces, 173 (79.7%) were positive for fungal isolation. For teeth without braces, 44 (20.3%) were positive. According to age group the results showed that the age group (11–18 year) with braces recorded the highest percentage of positive samples, with 52 samples (26.1%), followed by the 7–10 year age group with braces at 21.6%, while the lowest percentage of positive samples was in the males aged 18 years and older with braces at 10.6%. According to diet, the "other treatments" category recorded the highest percentage of positive samples, at 47 (90.4%), followed by smokers at 87.1%, and then pregnant women at 85.7%. The results showed that Candida albicans was the predominant yeast species isolated from both oral and dental samples, accounting for 49.2% of oral isolates and 52.3% of dental isolates, followed by C. krusei and C. glabrata. Lower isolation rates were recorded for C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis.

Conclusion: Oral Candida colonization is more common when removable orthodontic equipment are worn for extended periods of time.