title: Ultrasonographic evaluation of periodontal changes during orthodontic tooth movement - work in progress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is a process whereby the application of a force induces bone resorption on the pressure side and bone apposition on the tension side of the lamina dura. However, only limited data are available on the in vivo behavior of the periodontal tissues. The aim of this study was to assess the changes of periodontal tissues, induced by the orthodontic canine retraction, using 40 MHz ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasonographic evaluation of periodontal tissues was conducted in 5 patients with indication for orthodontic treatment. The upper first premolars were extracted bilaterally due to severe crowding, and the canines were distalized using elastomeric chain with a net force of 100 cN. Ultrasonographic scans (US scans) were performed before, during and after retraction, in three distinct areas of the canines buccal surface: mesial, middle and distal. The reference point was the bracket, which appeared hyperechoic on the US scan. Four different dimensions were obtained: D1 (depth of the sulcus), D2 (thickness of the gingiva), D3 (length of the supracrestal fibers), D4 (width of periodontal space).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase of D1 was observed in all three areas of the periodontium, during orthodontic treatment. D3 was strongly correlated before and immediately after force delivery only for the mesial area (r=0.828, p<0.05). In total, 228 variables were statistically analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients, in order to demonstrate the relationship between periodontal findings during orthodontic tooth movement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-resolution ultrasonography has the capability to obviate changes in periodontal ligament space and free gingiva during orthodontic tooth movement.
authors.affiliation: Propaedeutics and Esthetic Dentistry Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimbran
authors.affiliation: Propaedeutics and Esthetic Dentistry Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudea
authors.affiliation: Propaedeutics and Esthetic Dentistry Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasparik
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dudea
keywords: orthodontic tooth movement; periodontal tissue; ultrasonography