SALIVARY BIOMARKERS AS PREDICTORS OF ORTHODONTIC TOOTH MOVEMENT RATE

Background: Tooth movement in orthodontic treatment involves a complex biological cascade of periodontal bone remodeling. Due to inter-individual variability in tissue response to force, empirical management often results in unpredictable treatment sequels. Analysis of biochemical constituents in whole saliva could provide valuable insights into the mechanistic underpinnings of localized tissue remodeling.

Objective: To investigate salivary cytokines and enzymes as potential biomarkers of periodontal bone remodeling in orthodontic patients and establish a correlative association with the rate of clinical tooth movement as a basis for empirical force modulation.

Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 65 asymptomatic orthodontic subjects (19.4 ± 3.8 years) attending the Industrial & Urban Core Punjab region over a four-month period. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were obtained by the spitting method under standardized protocols. Salivary levels of Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity was determined by spectrophotometric assay. Clinical rate of movement was calculated on a digital dental arch model using calibrated digital calipers over a 4-week follow-up. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression modeling.

Results: The mean rapidity of tooth movement noted was 0.88 ± 0.22 mm/4 weeks. Pearson's analysis established statistically meaningful helpful associations of tooth movement velocity with salivary IL-1β levels (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and ALP activity (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression modeling told us that a merged biochemical profile of IL-1β and ALP was a significant predictor of physical orientation velocity, explaining a large proportion of inter-individual clinical variance (R² = 0.62, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Salivary IL-1β and ALP are notable non-invasive stand  for periodontal bone remodeling which shows concordance with individual rates of tooth displacement velocity. Approximation of these salivary biomarkers could enable clinicians to changeover from empirical force delivery regimens to individualized biomechanical rules in orthodontic drill.