Intermittent 8-hour activation in orthodontic molar movement

The duration of force application is an important factor, together with the magnitude of force, in stimulating osteoclast recruitment in the periodontal ligament. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of duration of intermittent versus continuous force application on the amount of molar movement in rats. Seventy-six molars of 38 rats were randomly assigned to continuous, intermittent, and sham-operation groups. A calibrated nickel-titanium coil spring exerting 40 g of initial force was suspended between the maxillary first molars and the incisors for 13 days. In the intermittent group, the coil spring was suspended for 8 hours per day. Tooth movement was measured on radiographs. There was no significant difference in the initial tooth displacement between the continuous-force and intermittent-force groups. Tooth movement at day 7 was significantly (P <.05) less in the intermittent group than in the continuous group. Actual mesial tooth movement and total tooth movement in the intermittent group were 65.9% and 73.7%, respectively, of those in the continuous group. Our results suggest that the amount of tooth movement in response to intermittent force is less than that in response to continuous force, but that the amount of tooth movement achieved by intermittent force exceeds the expected value predicted by the duration (33.3%) of force application.