The effect of fluoride on orthodontic tooth movement in humans. A two- and three-dimensional evaluation

The aim of the present study was to determine whether high and low fluoride concentrations in drinking water affected the early stages of tooth movement when heavy and light orthodontic forces were applied for 4 weeks. A further aim was to compare and evaluate the resulting two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) orthodontic tooth movement.

The sample consisted of 96 maxillary upper first premolars from 48 patients who required premolar extractions as part of their orthodontic treatment. Patients were selected from two different cities in Turkey with low and high fluoride concentrations of 0.05 and 2 ppm, respectively. The patient sample was divided into four groups according to the magnitude of force applied to the first premolars and the concentration of fluoride in the public water supply; Group 1, High fluoride intake (> or = 2 ppm)-Heavy force (225 g); Group 2, Low fluoride intake (< or = 0.05 ppm)-Heavy force; Group 3, High fluoride intake-Light force (25 g); and Group 4, Low fluoride intake-Light force. A light or heavy buccal tipping orthodontic force was applied to the upper first premolars for 4 weeks. The first three palatal rugae were used for the superimposition of patient casts in a 2-D and 3-D evaluation of generated movements.

It was found that heavy force application and fluoride intake increased the average rate of tooth movement. It was further shown that age was negatively correlated with tooth movement in the 2-D and 3-D measurements.

The average rate of tooth movement was found to be greater in the heavy force and high fluoride intake group (Group 1HH). Age was negatively correlated with orthodontic tooth movement. Two- and three-dimensional methods were accurate for the assessment of tooth movement after four weeks of buccal tipping force application when the palatal rugae were used for superimposition.