title: [Myth of optimal pressure].
abstract: Orthodontic tooth movement always follows the same pattern. Four phases can be distinguished. During the last phase, the linear phase, the tooth moves through the alveolar bone. One could assume that the rate of tooth displacement is related to the magnitude of the force or to the pressure in the periodontal ligament. No consensus exists on the optimal pressure for orthodontic tooth movement. In literature pressures are advocated, ranging from 2 to 30 KPa. Animal experiments show that a large range of force magnitudes results in an equal rate of tooth movement. A dose-response relation is only feasible when forces are used which are far below those used in an everyday practice.
authors.affiliation: Afdeling Orthodontie en Orale Biologie van de Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Maltha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014085:Tooth Migration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*