Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation on the Orthodontic Movement of Teeth

摘要

A pilot study was conducted using animal subjects that would determine if therapeutic transcutaneous electrical stimulation under the conditions tested would accelerate orthodontic tooth movement. The therapeutic range of transcutaneous electrical simulation tested was an alternating current stimulation time setting which was continuous for 20 minutes or 1 hour of therapy per dog per day at a stimulation frequency of .5 Hertz and a current amplitude of 500 microamperes. Maxillary second premolars on mongrel dogs were protracted on edgewise sectional archwires using power chains. One side received transcutaneous electrical stimulation while the opposite side acted as a control. Clinical tooth movement was enhanced in the 1 hour of therapy per day dog but not in the 20 minute per day specimens. X-ray comparisons showed no differences between the test and control sides in either group. Histological examinations revealed enhanced cellular activity in the 1 hour per day dog. Histological, the 20 minute per day specimens and the control sides did not reveal any histological differences. The electron microprobe on the scanning electron microscope determined that the Calcium/Phosphorus ratios were also higher on the electrically stimulated sides than on the control sides. The Ca/P ratio of the tension side of the 1 hour per day dog was higher but in the 20 minute per day specimens the compression sides Ca/P ratios were higher when transcutaneous electrical stimulation was used in addition to orthodontic tooth movement.