Effect of local administration of simvastatin on orthodontic tooth movement in rabbits.

INTRODUCTION: Maintaining tooth anchorage during orthodontic treatment has challenged orthodontists and threatening the success of some orthodontic therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of local administration of simvastatin on orthodontic tooth movement. METHODS: Nickel-titanium coil springs were used to induce orthodontic tooth movement in 10 white New Zealand rabbits for 21 days. A split-mouth design was implemented where one mandibular quadrant received local administration of simvastatin and the corresponding mandibular quadrant received control vehicle solution on a weekly basis. Magnitudes of tooth movement were measured on 3-dimensional models of the experimental teeth. Animals were killed at the end of the experimental period to allow histomorphometric analysis of alveolar bone modeling. RESULTS: The total magnitude of tooth movement in the quadrant receiving simvastatin was significantly less than that in the quadrant receiving control vehicle solution. Local administration of simvastatin resulted in a significant percentage of inhibition of tooth movement of 39.8 ± 22.6%. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a significant reduction in the numbers of osteoclasts and areas of active bone-resorptive lacunae hindering bone resorption processes in the quadrant receiving simvastatin. CONCLUSIONS: Local administration of simvastatin can reduce the rate and magnitude of orthodontic tooth movement. Moreover, local administration of simvastatin diminishes bone resorption processes associated with orthodontic tooth movement reducing the number of osteoclasts and the subsequent area of active bone resorption.

Effect of local administration of simvastatin on postorthodontic relapse in a rabbit model.

INTRODUCTION: Posttreatment relapse is a major challenging clinical issue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of local administration of simvastatin on posttreatment relapse. METHODS: Orthodontic tooth movement was induced in 10 white New Zealand rabbits. After 21 days of active tooth movement, the orthodontic appliances were removed, and the experimental teeth were allowed to relapse for 21 days. During the relapse phase, 1 mandibular quadrant received local simvastatin administration, and the other received the control vehicle solution on a weekly basis. Three-dimensional models of the experimental teeth were created to allow the measurement of experimental tooth movement and posttreatment relapse. The animals were killed at the end of the relapse phase for histomorphometric analysis of alveolar bone remodeling. RESULTS: The mean relapse percentages were 75.83% in the quadrant receiving the control vehicle solution and 62.01% in the quadrant receiving simvastatin. Neither the relapse magnitude nor the relapse percentage showed a significant difference between the 2 quadrants. Histomorphometric analyses showed that local simvastatin administration yielded a significant reduction in the area of active bone-resorptive lacunae and a significant increase in newly formed bone area. CONCLUSIONS: Although local administration of simvastatin aids in bone remodeling associated with posttreatment relapse by reducing the area of active bone resorption and upregulating bone formation, it did not significantly minimize posttreatment relapse.