ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of vitamin C deficiency on the orthodontic tooth movement and bony remodeling processes. Thirty six male guinea pigs were divided on the basis of the given amount of vitamin C (normal group: 5 mg/day, deficient group: 0.2 mg/day) and 75 gm of force was applied to the maxillary incisors. Experimental animals were sacrificed at day 0, day 1, day 3, day 5, day 7 and day 14 after force application and the amount of tooth movement was measured and tissues were studied histologically. The results showed that the amount of collagen fiber in the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone of the deficient group was less than that of the normal group. In the stretched side, the osteoblastic activity and alveolar bone formation of the normal group increased in a time dependent manner during experimental periods, but the deficient group showed less activity and formation. The amount of tooth movement in the deficiency group was more than in the normal group at day 0, day 1, day 3, day 5, and day 7. According to the above results, a deficiency of vitamin C resulted in a defect of collagen synthesis of the periodontium and inhibition of bone formation and stimulation of bone resorption with rapid tooth movement in early periods of force application.