Assessment of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in gingival crevicular fluid in growing and adult orthodontic patients: An in vivo study

Smitha V Shetty,Anand K Patil,Sanjay V Ganeshkar

doi:10.4103/0301-5742.158627

Abstract

Introduction: Orthodontic treatment has been widely accepted among adults in the present years. It has been postulated that the tooth movement is faster in children when compared to the adults. This could be assessed more accurately by assessment of gene markers responsible for bone turnover in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). The purpose of this study was to assess the association of levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in GCF with age during the tooth movement. Materials and Methods: A group of 14 growing and adult patients requiring fixed orthodontic therapy were selected. The maxillary canines were retracted in both the groups using coil springs. GCF samples were collected before the spring activation and subsequent sampling was done after the activation up to 6 th week. The levels of alkaline and acid phosphatase were then compared. Results: On comparison, the alkaline phosphatase levels were much higher in children at baseline and remained elevated suggesting increased osteoblastic activity. The levels of acid phosphatase were higher in the children at all-time intervals, indicating increase in the osteoclastic activity. Conclusion: Increase in enzymatic activity in children during the tooth movement as compared to adults partially supports the hypothesis of faster tooth movement in children.

Highlights

Orthodontic treatment has been widely accepted among adults in the present years
Monitoring the phosphatase activities in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could be suggestive of the tissue changes occurring during the orthodontic tooth movement.[7,8,9]
GCF is one such exudates that represents a powerful, noninvasive vehicle, since it contains an array of biochemical and cellular factors which feature as biomarkers of the state of the periodontium.[14,15]

Summary

Introduction

It has been postulated that the tooth movement is faster in children when compared to the adults This could be assessed more accurately by assessment of gene markers responsible for bone turnover in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). PMID: xxxxx stimulating tooth movement in bone, the underlying complex mechanisms of bone resorption and apposition should be understood in detail This complex and active process of bone turnover involves the bone formation by osteoblasts and resorption by osteoclasts.[3] The osteoclasts have high acid phosphatase activity and the osteoblasts have alkaline phosphatase activity.[4,5,6] Monitoring the phosphatase activities in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could be suggestive of the tissue changes occurring during the orthodontic tooth movement.[7,8,9]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion