Changes in bone formation during experimental tooth movement after denervation of the rabbit inferior alveolar nerve

The effects of nerve fibers on bone formation during tooth movement were examined using eight rabbits with denervation of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). IAN on one side for all the animals was denervated and and sham operation was performed on the other side of denervation. The distance of tooth movement on the denervated and sham operated sides was very similar and 1.20 +/- 0.17 and 1.24 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- S.D. mm), respectively. From the fluorescent observations, the denervated and sham operated sides in the animals without tooth movement i.e. control group showed similar morphology. The animals with tooth movement i.e. experimental group showed significant new bone formation than the control group. However, the amount of new bone formation on the denervated side was less than the sham operated side. It was suggested that the nerve fibers might play some roles on bone formation during the tooth movement.