Abstract

Background: Orthodontic maxillary expansion is a commonly-performed treatment approach to correct transverse maxillary deficiencies by separating the mid-palatal suture. To obtain a successful treatment result and prevent relapse, the expanded maxillary sutures require maintenance by means of qualified bone reorganisation.

Aim: To assess the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on sutural bone formation after the expansion of the inter-premaxillary suture in rats.

Methods: Sixteen male Wistar rats, 6 to 8-week old, were used. The expansion appliance comprised a helical spring fabricated from 0.014 inch stainless steel wire (Dentaurum, Ispringen, Germany). The rats were divided into two equal groups and randomly assigned to the LIPUS treatment group or a sham-operation group. LIPUS was delivered via a 2.5 cm diameter ultrasound transducer (Exogen, Smith and Nephews, Inc., Memphis, TN, USA) for 20 minutes per day during 7 days of post-expansion retention. Following retention, the rats’ maxillae were surgically removed and histologic and immunohistochemical specimens were prepared and examined.

Results: The number of osteoblasts and blood vessel dimensions in the ultrasound group increased but was not significant, compared with the control group. A statistically significant difference in osteocalcin, VEGF and TGF-β immunoreactivities (p < 0.01) was found in the area of the mineralising tissue. Only VEGF immunoreactivity was significant between two groups (p < 0.01) in the fibrous tissue area.

Conclusions: The area of mineralising tissue in the LIPUS-applied group expressed activity markers for osteocalcin, VEGF and TGF-β compared with a surrounding area of fibrous tissue. Cellular activation in the LIPUS group was greater than that of controls. Therefore, LIPUS may be accepted as a useful approach to enhance sutural bone formation.

Details

Title
Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on bone formation after the expansion of the inter-premaxillary suture in rats: a histologic and immunohistochemical study
Author
Toy, Ebubekir 1 ; Öztürk, Fırat 2 ; Altındiş, Sedat 1 ; Kozacıoğlu, Sümeyye 3 ; Toy, Hatice 3 

 Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey 
 Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey 
 Department of Pathology, Meram Medicine Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey 
Pages
176-183
Publication year
2014
Publication date
2014
Publisher
De Gruyter Poland
ISSN
22077472
e-ISSN
22077480
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3155749671
Copyright
© 2014. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.