The Effect of Fluorosis on the Rate of Orthodontic Space Closure - A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background Fluoride is known to minimize the pace of orthodontic tooth movement in animals. However the effect of fluoride on tooth movement in humans is yet to be explored.Aim To compare the rate of space closure among fluorosed FL and non-fluorosed NFL patients clinically and radiographically using study models and also to estimate the bone density using Image J Analyser among fluorosed and non-fluorosed patients.Methodology Forty subjects requiring orthodontic treatment with extraction of all the first premolars were included. The patients were divided into two groups of 20 each based on the presence of dental fluorosis - Non-fluorosed group NFL showing no signs of fluorosis and flourosed group FL consisting of patients with dental fluorosis. Rate of space closure was measured using Vernier caliper and bone density was measured using Image J analyzer software.Results Rate of tooth movement between NFL mean- 7.9 months and FL groups mean- 14.8 months showed highly significant difference between the groups P-value 0.000lt0.01. Bone density changes assessed using the radiographs showed highly significant changes in NFL and FL groups P-value 0.000lt0.01.Conclusion The average rate of tooth movement was slower among fluorosed patients when compared to non-fluorosed patients. Dental fluorosis is positively correlated with skeletal fluorosis. Bone density is high in patients with dental fluorosis which explains the decreased rate of space closure.