Diabetes mellitus impairs angiogenesis and tissue reorganization during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Thus, this study evaluated pulpal outcomes in orthodontic tooth movement through metabolic changes in diabetes. Male Wistar rats were used, and the in vivo study design consisted of four groups (n = 10/group): C-non-diabetic animals not subjected to orthodontic tooth movement; D-diabetic animals not subjected to orthodontic tooth movement; OTM-non-diabetic animals subjected to orthodontic tooth movement; and D + OTM-diabetic animals subjected to orthodontic tooth movement. In addition, the pulps of the distovestibular root (DV) and mesiovestibular root (MV) were assessed by histomorphometric analyses and immunoexpression of the RANKL/OPG system. Pulpal analysis of the MV root showed an increase in blood vessels in diabetic animals. Inflammatory infiltrate and fibroblastic cells were elevated in diabetic animals with tooth movement in the DV and MV roots. In the DV and MV roots, diabetic rats with OTM showed a reduction in birefringent collagen fibers. The immunostaining for RANKL was higher in the pulp tissue of OTM in diabetic and non-diabetic animals. It was concluded that the pulp tissue has less adaptive and repair capacity during OTM in diabetes. Orthodontic strength can alter the inflammatory processes in the pulp.
Keywords: Dental pulp; Dental root; Osteoprotegerin; RANKL; Tooth movement.
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