Periodontal ligament cells in adolescents and adults: Genetic level responses to orthodontic forces.

Introduction: Periodontal ligament cells (PDLC) respond to the application of mechanical forces by releasing various molecules that participate in bone remodeling. Whether these cellular reactions take place at the same rate in adolescent and adult patients is not known. In this study, we aimed to evaluate differences in genetic expression, if any, between the release of various inflammatory mediators from PDLC in adolescent and adult patients before and after the application of orthodontic forces.