Evaluation of the effects of vitamins C and E on experimentalorthodontic tooth movement

Background. This experimental study aimed to assess the effects of Vitamins C and E on orthodontictooth movement. Methods. Fifty-one male Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups: five appliance groups and onecontrol group. The appliance groups had an orthodontic appliance consisting of a closed-coil springligated between the maxillary incisor and maxillary first molar (50 g). Vitamin E and C (150 mg/kg)were injected intraperitoneally per day in the first and second groups, respectively. Vitamins E andC (20 μL) were locally injected into the periodontal gap of the moving teeth in the third and fourthgroups, respectively, once every three days. No vitamin was injected in the last (fifth) appliance group.The experimental period was 18 days. Histological and biochemical (alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin,and NTx levels) evaluations of the samples were performed, and maxillary incisor‒molar distance wasmeasured before and after the experiment. Results. The amount of tooth movement was similar in the appliance groups. All the vitamin groupsshowed significantly increased osteoblastic activity, while those treated with systemic vitamins exhibitedsignificantly increased numbers of collagen fibers on the tension side compared to the appliance controlgroup (P