Effect of Intra-Canal Direct Current Electric Stimulation on Orthodontic Tooth Movement: An Experimental Study in Canines

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether intra-canal application of controlled direct electric current (DEC) could accelerate the amount of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in young adult mixed breed dogs.Methods: Fourth premolars of both jaws of five young adult mixed breed dogs were divided into two groups of control and experimental groups. Orthodontic force was applied to both groups using an active NiTi push coil spring. Direct electric stimulation (15µA DC) was conducted by intra-canal usage of electric potential (1.5v). The experimental teeth were compared with controls in terms of clinical OTM results measured with an electronic caliper every two weeks (four time intervals). The animals were sacrificed one month (T2) or two months (T4) after initiation; and tissue sections were decalcified for histological evaluation. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16, Shapiro-Wilk test and paired t-test.Results: Measurements revealed a statistically significant increase in OTM at electrically stimulated sites compared to the control sites in just one time interval (T3: after four weeks) (P< 0.05). Histological sections also showed increased osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity at tension and compression sides of the experimental group compared to the control group, respectively at both time intervals (T2 and T4).Conclusion: Direct intra-canal electric current applied by a miniature electric device is effective for increasing the rate and amount of OTM in canine experimental model

The effect of anterior inclined plane treatment on the dentoskeletal of Class II division 1 patients

Most of Class II malocclusions are due to underdeveloped mandible with increased overjet and overbite. Lack of incisal contact results in the extrusion of the upper and lower anterior dentoalveolar complex, which helps to lock the mandible and prevent its normal growth and development, and this abnormality is exaggerated by soft tissue imbalance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skeletal and dental changes in patients treated with anterior inclined plane appliance in growing patients with moderate Class II Division 1 having deep overbite. In this study, 25 patients, including 15 girls and 10 boys, with a mean age of 9 ±1.2 years were selected; all of them presented with moderate Class II deep bite with increased overjet and normal or horizontal growth pattern. Pre- and post-treatment X-rays and photos for an average of 8 months were taken. The statistical assessment of the data suggested that there were no significant changes in the vertical skeletal parameters. The mandibular incisors were protruded, whereas the maxillary incisors were retruded. Overbite and overjet were also reduced. There was significant increase in the mandibular length. The results revealed that in mixed dentition patients, the inclined plane corrected Class II discrepancies mostly through dentoskeletal changes