The effects of facial bone from facial tipping of incisors in monkeys.

Four male monkeys were utilized to determine whether alveolar dehiscences of fenestrations could be produced by facial tipping of mandibular incisor teeth. Two experimental teeth and two controls were chosen in each monkey. The experimental incisors were moved facially from 2.1 to 5.0 mm over a period of 36 to 95 days. Following movement, the teeth were placed in retention and the monkeys were sacrificed at 0, 30, 60, and 120 days. Clinical measurements were made prior or orthodontic movement by laying a mucoperiosteal flap and measuring the height of the alveolar crest. Measurements were also taken at the time of sacrifice and experimental and control tooth in each animal was used for histological examination. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in bone loss between the control and experimental teeth. 2. No dehiscences or fenestrations developed with the facial movement of the experimental teeth.