• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.29 no.2 s.73
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• pp.157-163
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electromagnetic field in orthodontic tooth movement, and the optimal application period of electromagnetic field to initiate tooth movement. Eighty male Hartley guinea pigs were utilized in this study. Laterally directed orthodontic force was applied to the maxillary central incisors. Half sine-wave pulsed electromagnetic field(HSPEMP) was applied to experimental group during 10 days. According to the period of application of HSPEMP(4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours a day), they were divided into the three sub-groups The obtained results were as follows; 1. In case of application of HSPEMF during 4 hours a day, there was no significant difference in the final amount of orthodontic tooth movement between the experimental and the control group. 2. In case of application of HSPEMF during 8 and 12 hours a day, there was a significant increase in the final amount of orthodontic tooth movement since the eighth day, the sixth day respectively. 3. In comparison with the case of application of HSPEMF during 8 hours a day, there was a significant increase in the final amount of orthodontic tooth movement at the seventh day and the eighth day in case of application of HSPEMF during 12 hours a day.