Orthodontic tooth movement in alveolar bone augmentation area: A systematic review of animal studies

This systematic review aims to evaluate the optimal timing for orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) following alveolar bone augmentation, the types of alveolar bone graft materials used, and the associated animal models.

A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and grey literature databases, covering studies from January 1st, 2014, to November 30th, 2024. Studies addressing combined alveolar bone augmentation and OTM were selected, with outcomes such as OTM rate, bone formation, and root resorption assessed through imaging or histological methods. A control group was required in animal experiments. There were no language restrictions. Article screening and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. The SYRCLE risk-of-bias tool was used to evaluate study quality.

Fourteen animal studies were included, with subjects comprising dogs, rats, mice, and rabbits. The graft materials predominantly consisted of allografts, xenografts, and alloplasts. The applied orthodontic force ranged from 10g to 150g, with OTM performed at intervals of 0 to 3months. Methodologies included model measurements, imaging, and histological analyses.

OTM can be performed during the bone weaving stage, however, the use of alveolar bone grafts generally impedes OTM. Alloplasts are associated with less root resorption. Animal models should closely mirror human characteristics, considering factors such as sex, age, defect location and size, type of tooth movement, and force magnitude. Overall, the quality of the studies is suboptimal, and further well-designed animal and human studies are needed. This systematic review has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42025642198).