The effect of glucocorticosteroid medication on orthodontically induced root resorption (An experimental study on rats)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Many patients use drugs on a daily basis, and all these drugs have therapeutic effects, as well as side effects
that may influence the cells targeted by orthodontic forces. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different
courses of glucocorticosteroid treatment on orthodontically induaced root resorption.
Materials and method: A 'Split- mouth design performing orthodontic tooth movement in 30 male Wistar albino rats divided
into three groups: control (n = 10), acute (n = 10) and chronic (n = 10). Acute and chronic groups received corticosteroid
treatment (5 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone) for 3 and 7 weeks, respectively, while no pharmacological treatment was
performed in the control group. The upper right 1st molar was moved mesially for 21 days in all three groups with a closingcoil
spring delivering 20 g of force to cause orthodontic tooth movement by means of fixed orthodontic appliance. A
histopathological based assessment method for the percentage of root resorption was performed at the coronal and apical
level on both compression and tension sites of the non-appliance and appliance sides.
Results: The results revealed that the acute group showed significantly more root resorption at the compession-coronal level
compared with the control and the chronic course group.
Conclusion: The percentage of root resorption is increased significantly in steroid treated groups compared to control group,
therefore; steroid administration will influence the occurrence of root resorption.
Key words: Glucocoricosteroid; orthodontics; rats; root resorption. J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2010; 22(1):79-82.