• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.27 no.5 s.64
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• pp.825-837
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of splinting methods on the rearrangement of periodontal fibers after experimental tooth movement. Orthodontic force was applied by placing closed coil spring between upper third incisor and canine in seven dogs, weighing 20 kg or more. After 3 weeks of force application, 0.0215 inch multistrand wire and polyethylene ribbon were bonded to each side, as a flexible and rigid splinting respectively in 6 experimental animals. The remaining one served as a control. Each two animals were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after splinting respectively and prepared histologically for hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. The results of this study were obtained as follows: 1. After tooth movement, periodontal space was narrowed and periodontal titers were thick on pressure side while elongated fibers were observed on tension side. 2. After 4 weeks of retention, the rearrangement of periodontal fibers was observed in the flexible splinting group, but not in the rigid splinting group. 3. After 8 weeks of retention, the rearrangement of periodontal titers was observed in both groups, but the difference could not be detected between two groups. 4. During the retention period, the rearrangement of periodontal fibers was faster in tension side than in pressure side. These results show that the rearrangement of periodontal fibers is also obtained by rigid splinting after tooth movement. It is suggested that the rigid splinting by polyethylene ribbon can be used as a way of postorthodontic retention.