[The periodontal changes following orthodontic tooth movement--a retrospective histological study in humans. 1]

The maxilla of a deceased (19 years, female) who was treated with a straight-wire-appliance could be taken in autopsy. The specimen was prepared histologically in the horizontal plane. The type of tooth movement was reconstructed by comparing the treatment documents of the beginning (photo of the cast model, radiograph) with the photo and radiographs of the specimen. In that manner the histological findings could be correlated with the type of tooth movement.

Localisation and amount of tissue changes at the roots depend on the type of tooth movement and the morphology of bone. The histological findings are more pronounced than the radiographs show. Histologically verified bony dehiscences in the facial or oral cortical plate are not to be diagnosed by macroscopic inspection of the specimen.