Methods: An upper canines from 12 patients (mean age: 14±2 years) undergoing treatment for distal movement served as the test tooth (DC), and its contralateral (CC) and antagonist (AC) canines were used as controls. The CC was included in the orthodontic appliance without orthodontic force; the AC was free from any orthodontic appliance. The clinical gingival condition was evaluated at the baseline, and 14 and 28 days after appliance placement. The GCF around the experimental teeth was harvested from mesial and distal tooth sites immediately before appliance placement, and 14 and 28 days after it and ALP and ACP concentration were determined spectrophotometriaclly.
Results: ALP concentration was elevated significantly in DC and CC groups at days 14 and 28 compared with the AC. In DC group, the ALP was significantly greater in mesial site than distal site, while no significant changes were found between both sites of CC. The peak level of ALP was observed in mesial site of DC at day 14. Regarding ACP, significant elevation of this enzyme was seen in DC group both in mesial and distal sites at days 14 and 28. The peak level of enzyme was seen at day 14. However, the difference between mesial and distal sites was not significant. The ACP concentration showed significant changes only in distal site of CC group, while the ACP level in mesial site of this group and the both sites of AC group remained at baseline.
Conclusions: changes of ALP and ACP levels in GCF reflect the tissue responses that occur in periodontium during orthodontic tooth movement.