The effect of NaF on bone and tooth resorption around an anchor tooth during a rapid maxillary expansion procedure

Min, Seungki; Chung, Kyu Rhim

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of a 2.2 mg/Kg/day intraoral administration of NaF on the amount of root resorption and osteoclastic activity during or after a rapid maxillary expansion procedure. Ten puerile female dogs were divided into two groups: a control group and a NaF-treated group. A fixed type maxillary expansion device was delivered to all dogs. The appliance was activated twice daily throughout a 20-day period, causing a 5-mm expansion of maxillary bone. After the expansion procedure, the animals were sacrificed at days 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 of the retention period. The buccal surface of the root of each maxillary canine was examined by means of a surface electron microscope (SEM). Using SEM, web-like resorption lacunae were observed on the bone or the tooth surface at the site of osteoclastic activity; these observations were verified by histological methods. No peculiar resorption lacunae were found in the apical tip of the roots of either the control group or the NaF-treated group animals. The NaF-treated retention group was found to have less resorption lacunae formation on day 45 and day 60. The preventative effect of NaF on resorption lacunae formation on the surface of the bone covering the anchor tooth was confirmed. Larger areas of resorption lacunae were found on the surface of the bone covering the canines in the control group animals, as compared to those of the NaF-treated group, especially on day 30 and day 60. Using SEM, the present study revealed a difference between the control group and the NaF-treated group in the prevalence and the size of the resorption lacunae formation on the cemental root surface. The preventative effect of NaF on bone resorption was confirmed. Further studies concerned with the optimum concentration of NaF that has an effect in vivo are necessary.