RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of systemic administration of omega-3 fatty acids on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) with histological analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OTM was induced in 20 adult albino New Zealand rabbits, divided into omega-3 and control groups, with nickel-titanium coil springs for 21 days. Omega-3 or saline was given every day via oral gavage during the experimental period. Animals were sacrificed for histomorphometric analysis of alveolar bone remodeling after 21 days of OTM. RESULTS: A significant difference in OTM amount was found in the third week of OTM with means of 1.445 ± 0.13 and 1.72 ± 0.15 for the experimental and control groups, respectively. Histomorphometric analysis showed a significant reduction in the area of active bone-resorptive lacunae and a significant increase in osteoblastic activity in the omega-3 group after 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Strong evidence of the osteoclastic inhibitory effect of systemic omega-3 was found, which reduced the percentage and amount of OTM.
