The effect of caffeine on orthodontic tooth movement in rats.

OBJECTIVES

to determine the effect of different doses of caffeine on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty male 250-300 g Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups of ten animals each and received 0 (control), 1 g/l, 2 g/l and 3 g/l caffeine in tap water for 3 days. Orthodontic appliances were ligated between the maxillary first molars and incisors on the 4th day of the study period. All rats were sacrificed after 2 weeks of treatment after which OTM was measured. Hematoxylin/eosin-stained sections of the molars were prepared and the mesial roots were examined for resorption-lacunae depth and osteoclast number. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis (<0.05).

RESULTS

A significant decrease in OTM was observed only in the 2 g/l (=0.043) and 3 g/l (<0.01) caffeine-receiving rats compared to the control animals. Osteoclast counts and resorption-lacunae depths demonstrated significant differences between each of the caffeine groups and control rats (<0.05). None of the variables showed significant differences between the caffeine groups (>0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to our findings, one of the effects of caffeine consumption during orthodontic treatment in rats was decreased root resorption. Additionally, concentrations of 2 g/l and 3 g/l inhibited OTM which seems to be due to its influence on osteoclast numbers.