[Biomechanical study on orthodontic tooth movement: changes in biomechanical property of the periodontal tissue in terms of tooth mobility].

Abstract

The magnitude of tooth mobility has been frequently used for evaluating biomechanical response of the periodontal tissue to applied forces. However, tooth mobility during orthodontic tooth movement has not been measured. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in biomechanical property of the periodontal tissue during canine retraction, in terms of tooth mobility. The upper canines on both sides of ten orthodontic patients were moved in the distal direction for about four weeks with an initial force of 200 gf. An amount of tooth movement and a magnitude of tooth mobility were measured every 3 or 4 days during retraction. A distally directed force up to 500 gf was continuously applied to each canine and tooth mobility was measured with a noncontact type of eddy current displacement sensor. A two-dimensional finite element model was constructed and displacements of the finite element model were calculated with various Young's moduli in loading with a 100 gf force in the distal direction. In comparison with the magnitudes of the tooth mobility, Young's modulus of the periodontal membrane before retraction and the influence of the biomechanical factors on changes in tooth mobility were investigated. The tooth movement curve was divided into three phases; an initial phase, a lag phase and a post-lag phase. The magnitudes of tooth mobility at the initial phase were significantly larger than those before retraction within the range of 250 gf to 500 gf and these magnitudes decreased during the lag phase. The magnitudes of tooth mobility at the post-lag phase significantly increased, within the range of 50 gf to 500 gf, than those before retraction. As a result of curveliniar regression analysis, the tooth mobility curves approximated to delta = AFB, where delta and F denote tooth mobility and force respectively. The coefficients A and B changed according to the phases of tooth movement. An inclination of the tooth mobility curve expressed by a tangent at the 400 gf force was the largest at the initial phase, and this inclination at the 100 gf force was the largest at the post-lag phase. Young's modulus of the periodontal membrane before retraction was determined to be approximately 35 gf/mm2 and Young's modulus of the periodontal membrane was the most important factor on the increase of tooth mobility. Tooth mobility significantly varied associated with tooth movement. It was indicated that biomechanical property of the periodontal tissue changes in response to each phase of tooth movement. In particular, Young's modulus of the periodontal membrane decreased at the post-lag phase of the orthodontic tooth movement.