Medications and Orthodontic Tooth Movement: What Accelerates and Diminishes Tooth Movement?

The biological aspect of orthodontic tooth movement is influenced by the magnitude and duration of the applied force. This initiates signaling cascades essential for bone remodeling, which involve activating various cell signaling pathways that enhance the metabolism of the periodontal ligament, leading to localized bone resorption and deposition. This process facilitates tooth movement on the pressure side and promotes healing on the tension side. The remodeling associated with orthodontic tooth movement is an inflammatory reaction involving mediators. Key components in this process include hormones, systemic influences, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, specific cytokines like interleukin 1, colony-stimulating factors, calcium, collagenase, and prostaglandins, all of which are essential for the biological adjustments necessary for tooth movement. Medications that influence molecular pathways critical for the homeostasis of periodontal tissues or that affect changes during orthodontic tooth movement and clastic cell regulation can potentially modulate tooth movement. With the recent increase in prescription medication use, it is essential for clinicians to be aware of medication consumption in prospective patients and understand its potential impact on orthodontic treatment. This review aimed to explore the effects of commonly prescribed medications on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement, thoroughly review the existing evidence on this topic, and identify potential areas for future research.

Facial Reconstruction Using Facial Artery Myomucosal Flap: A Comprehensive Review.

The facial artery myomucosal (FAMM) flap is a type of facial flap that is constructed with the buccal mucosa and submucosa along with a portion of the buccinator muscle, which is connected to nearby blood vessels to maintain its blood supply. It is a versatile and reliable option for head and neck reconstruction, particularly in oral cavity defects. This flap is employed in the reconstruction of the floor of the mouth, alveolar cleft surgery, and tongue defect repair. Previous studies have discussed the use of FAMM flaps for facial reconstructions. However, there are no current and updated comprehensive reviews discussing the use of FAMM flaps in facial reconstruction. In light of this, this study aimed to review all relevant studies that discuss the use of FAMM flaps in facial reconstruction.