Physical properties of root cementum: Part 28. Effects of high and low water fluoridation on orthodontic root...

Transient inflammatory surface resorption, referred to as orthodontic induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR), is an iatrogenic consequence of orthodontic tooth movement. Systemic fluoride has been associated with a reduction of OIIRR. This study aimed to investigate the effects of water fluoridation levels on OIIRR in a clinically applicable human orthodontic model.

Twenty-eight patients who required bilateral maxillary first premolar extraction as part of orthodontic treatment were selected from 2 cities with high and low water fluoridation of ≥2 ppm and ≤0.05 ppm, respectively. Patients were separated into high fluoride (HF) and low fluoride (LF) groups on the basis of water fluoridation levels. Bilateral maxillary first premolar teeth were subjected to 150 g of buccal tipping forces for 12 weeks with reactivation every 4 weeks. Teeth were extracted at the end of 12 weeks. Root resorption crater volume was determined using microcomputed tomography and 3-dimensional reconstruction.

HF group showed significantly less mean root resorption volume on the palatal root surface when compared with the LF group (P = 0.025). This difference was specifically displayed at palatal apical regions (P = 0.041). When root resorption volumes from the zones of orthodontic pressure (buccal cervical, palatal apical) were combined, the mean difference between HF and LF groups was statistically significant (P = 0.045).

Findings of the present study indicated a positive correlation between water fluoridation and the reduction of OIIRR, especially at the zones of orthodontic pressure, using a clinically relevant human orthodontic model.