The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the change of tooth mobility following orthodontic tooth movement. Six orthodontic patients which had been treated with edgewise appliance were used. Tooth mobility was measured with Periostest at the time of the removal of orthodontic appliance and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 weeks after appliance removal. Following results were obtained.
1. Tooth mobility upon the removal of orthodontic appliance showed individual variation while incisor showed greater mobility than the other teeth.
2. Tooth mobility showed continued decrease pattern until 24 weeks after appliance removal.
3. While maxillary incisors showed continued decrease pattern during the study period, the other teeth showed
steep decline pattern during the first 12 weeks and gentle slope during the second 12 weeks.
4. The tooth mobility of the maxillary second premolar showed the most typical change in terms of the consistency
of the decline.
5. There were no significant differences of tooth mobility between heavy and light-contacted anterior teeth during experimental period.
The results of the present study suggested that periodontal reorganization is not completed even in 24 weeks following orthodontic tooth movement.
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