title: The role of osteocytes during experimental orthodontic tooth movement: A review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the types of orthodontic force-induced mechanical stimuli that regulate osteocyte function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In orthodontics, a tooth can be moved through the alveolar bone when an appropriate orthodontic force is applied. These mechanical loads stimulate cells within the bone tissue around the tooth. These cellular responses lead to bone resorption on the side of the tooth where the pressure has been applied and bone deposition on the side of the tooth experiencing tension. Recently, osteocytes were identified to function as mechano-sensory cells in bone tissue that direct bone resorption and bone formation. Based on recent literature, the proposed function of osteocytes during orthodontic tooth movement is explored with better understanding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several stimuli regulating osteocyte function have been highlighted, and their potential roles in events initiating osteocyte sensing of orthodontic force have been explored in detail. The most popular hypotheses for osteocyte response include stress-induced bone matrix deformation/microcrack formation and fluid-flow shear stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding osteocyte function under mechanical stress may have profound implications in future orthodontic treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Orthodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Thamar City, Yemen. Electronic address: sakhr1221@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sakhr A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Murshid
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques
keywords: Bone remodelling; Mechanical stimuli; Mechanosignalling; Osteocyte; Tooth movement