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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
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Studying Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
623
Breaking a dogma: orthodontic tooth movement alters systemic immunity
Yehuda Klein1, Eilon David1, Noy Pinto1
1Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Progress in Orthodontics
|October 6, 2024
Summary
Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) triggers systemic immune changes, affecting cell percentages and signaling factors. This study reveals a link between local OTM and broader immune responses, impacting cellular immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Orthodontics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is traditionally viewed as a localized inflammatory process.
- This research investigates the systemic immune system's response to mechanical forces during OTM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the systemic immunological effects of mechanical force applied during orthodontic tooth movement.
- To analyze these effects over time in a controlled animal model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse orthodontic model with Ni-Ti springs to induce OTM in the upper 1st molar.
- Measured OTM using micro-computed tomography (µCT) and analyzed blood samples for cell counts and cytokine/chemokine profiles.
Main Results:
- Serum immuno-profiling revealed significant alterations in cellular immunity, including changes in leukocyte, monocyte, macrophage, neutrophil, and lymphocyte percentages.
- Systemic changes in signaling factors were observed, mirroring local immune responses to OTM.
Conclusions:
- Findings demonstrate a tangible connection between local orthodontic forces and systemic immune responses.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms and correlate findings with human subjects.
