Comparison of clinical and histological characteristics of orthodontic tooth movement into recent and healed extraction sites combined with corticotomy in rats

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the rate of tooth movement and histological characteristics of extraction sockets those were subjected to corticotomy. METHODS: A split-mouth randomized controlled trial experiment was designed. Thirty-two adult, male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: healing extraction socket (H) and recent extraction socket (R); these groups were randomly classified into 4 subgroups (0/7/21/60 days). The first maxillary molar was extracted on 1 side and 2 months were allowed for complete bone healing; then, the corresponding molar was extracted on the other side and surgical intervention was performed at the mid-alveolar point of the first maxillary molar. Ten grams of continuous force was applied. The outcomes measured were rate of tooth movement, percentage of periodontal space and histological evaluation. The rate of tooth movement was calculated as the measured distance divided by the duration of molar movement. Histomorphometric evaluations were performed on the second and third maxillary molars. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare differences between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the rates of tooth movement between H and R groups at any of the 4 time points. The histological appearance and percentage of periodontal space between the R and H groups also demonstrated no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of orthodontic tooth movement into recent and healed socket sites did not differ between the groups. Histological analysis of tooth movement revealed regional acceleration during every time period.