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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Studying Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
A rodent model using skeletal anchorage and low forces for orthodontic tooth movement
Sudha Gudhimella1, Abdelhamed Y Ibrahim2, Divakar Karanth3
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky.
Introduction:
Nonhuman animal models have been used extensively to study orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). However, rodent models have disadvantages, including a reported reduction in bone volume during OTM. The purpose of this study was to determine the viability of a skeletal anchorage and the effect of low force (∼3 cN) on interradicular bone volume during OTM.
Methods:
Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 time points. A miniscrew and a nickel titanium coil spring placed a load of 3 cN (experimental) or 0 cN (sham) on the maxillary first molar in a split-mouth design. Displacement of the first molar and bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) in the interradicular region were quantified.
Results:
The success rate of the miniscrew was 98.9% (89 out of 90). Linear and angular tooth movement increased steadily (mean 0.1 mm/wk, 0.48 mm at 40 days). BV/TV was significantly reduced between the tooth movement and non-tooth movement sides in the 3 cN group: by 13%, 23%, 15%, 23%, and 16% at 3, 7, 14, 28, and 40 days, respectively.
Conclusions:
Our model resulted in efficient OTM without skeletal anchorage failure. BV/TV reduction was lower than in previous reports. This novel validated model is likely to be the basis for future studies.
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