Milo Hellman Award Lecture: Control of Orthodontic Tooth Movement by Polymer Microsphere Controlled Delivery of Osteoprotegerin in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Because orthodontic tooth movement is dependent upon osteoclast-mediated resorption of alveolar bone, biologic mediators that regulate osteoclasts can be utilized to control tooth movement. Our goal is to develop a novel method to locally enhance orthodontic anchorage, without significant systemic effects. We encapsulated recombinant osteoprotegerin (OPG) in polymer microspheres and tested the effectiveness of microsphere encapsulated vs. non-encapsulated OPG for enhancing orthodontic anchorage in a previously established rodent model of tooth movement.

Learning Objectives:

• Show that pharmacological approach to control of orthodontic tooth movement has the potential to be an effective adjunct to conventional orthodontic methods of anchorage preservation.
• Demonstrate the difference in local as well as systemic effects between the single and multiple dose of drug injections.
• Comprehend the limitation of current findings and to explore possible future directions.