Effects of micro-osteoperforations on tooth movement and bone in the beagle maxilla.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine how micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) affect tooth movements, bone turnover, bone density, and bone volume.

Methods: A split-mouth experimental design with 7 beagle dogs was used to evaluate bone surrounding maxillary second premolars that had been retracted for 7 weeks. One month after the maxillary third premolars were extracted, 8 MOPs (1.5 mm wide and 7 mm deep) were created without flaps with the use of the Propel device (6 were placed 3 mm distal to the second premolar and 2 were placed in the premolar furcation) on one randomly chosen side. The maxillary second premolars were retracted bilaterally with the use of 200 g nickel-titanium closed coil springs. Tooth movements were measured intraorally and radiographically. Microscopic computed tomography was used to evaluate the material density and volume fraction of bone distal to the premolars. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained and fluorescent sections were used to examine the bone remodeling.

Results: Neither the intraoral (P = 0.866) nor radiographic (P = 0.528) measures showed statistically significant side differences in tooth movements. There also were no statistically significant differences in the density (P = 0.237) or volume fraction (P = 0.398) of bone through which the premolars were being moved. Fluorescent and histologic evaluations showed no apparent differences in osteoblasts, osteoclasts, or mineralization of bone near the teeth being moved. Bone healing was evident in and near the MOP sites, which had nearly but not completely healed after 7 weeks. Regions of acellular bone were evident extending ∼0.8 mm from the MOP sites.

Conclusions: MOPs placed 3 mm away from teeth do not increase tooth movements and have limited and transitory effect on bone.