In the name of

GOD

Biomechanic and types of tooth

movement

Presented by:

Dr Somayeh Heidari
Orthodontist

Reference:

Contemporary Orthodontics
Chapter 8
William R. Proffit, Henry W. Fields, David M.Sarver. 2013. Mosby

Definition of terms

Force

a load applied to an object that will tend to move it to a different position

F = m.a
its units are Newtons or gram. Millimeters/ Seconds2
is usually measured in weight units of Grams or ounces
a force is a vector

Line of Action
Origin /
Point of application

Sense / Direction

Resultant

Center of resistance
a point at which resistance to movement can be concentrated
for an object in free space is the same as the center of mass
for a partially restrained object, determined by the nature of
the external constraints

The center of resistance for a tooth is at the approximate midpoint of

the embedded portion of the root: about halfway between the root
apex and alveolar bone crest.

Location of the center of resistance depends on the alveolar

bone height, root length , morphology and number of roots.

Moment
a force (F) acting at a distance from the center of resistance (d)
m = F d (gm-mm)
moment of a force results in some rotational movement
it tends to rotate the object around the center of resistance

it is precisely the situation when a force is applied to the crown of a toot

F
Distance (d)

M=Fd

Moment of Force

Clinical examples of moments of the forces

Couple
two parallel forces equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction that

separated by a distance

the result is a pure moment

will produce pure rotation around the center of

resistance

couple = magnitude of force(s) distance between

forces

F
400 g.mm

d
50 g

8 mm

M
50 g

Couple force = F d

Center of rotation
the point around which rotation actually occurs when an object
is moved

If a force and a couple are applied to an object, the center of

rotation can be controlled

Types of tooth movement

 optimum orthodontic force will stimulate cellular activity

without completely occluding blood vessels in the PDL.
the PDL response is determined not by force magnitude alone,
but by force per unit area, or pressure.
the distribution of force within the PDL differs with different
types of tooth movement

Pressure = Force / Area

Tipping
the crown and the root move in opposite directions
greater movement of the crown than the root
the center of rotation is apical to the center of resistance
based on the location of the center of rotation is classified into
uncontrolled and controlled tipping

Uncontrolled Tipping
the simplest form of orthodontic movement
produced when a single force is applied against the crown
the tooth will rotate during movement
the PDL is compressed near the apex (same side as the force)
and at the alveolar crest (opposite side from the force)

 maximum pressure is at the alveolar crest and the root apex

progressively less pressure is created as the center of resistance is approached

only one-half the PDL area is loaded

high pressure in the two areas is concentrated

force must be kept quite low:

not exceed approximately 50 gm

M/F ratio = 0:1 to 5:1

average root length and 100% alveolar height)

Controlled Tipping
the center of rotation is at the root apex
by application a force to move the crown and a moment to control the apex
concentration of stresses at the alveolar crest
minimal stress at the root apex
M/F ratio = 7:1

Translation
also known as bodily movement
the root apex and crown move in the same direction and the same distance
PDL area is loaded uniformly
twice as much force is required for translation
as for tipping

 a horizontal force applied at the center of resistance will

result in translation
two forces are applied simultaneously (a couple and a force
are required)
the center of rotation is at infinity
M/F ratio = 10:1

Rotation
pure rotation requires a couple
no net force acts at the center of resistance
in theory, rotational force can be more larger than other movements
in fact, rotational movement without tipping is essentially impossible
appropriate forces for rotation are similar
to those for tipping

Extrusion
ideally would produce no area of compression in the PDL, only
tension
practically the tooth tipped at all while being extruded
even if compressed areas avoided, heavy forces in pure tension
would be undesirable unless for extraction
about the same magnitude of force as those for tipping

ntrusion

successful intrusion can be accomplished, only if very light forces are applied

the force concentration is in a small area at the root apex

the tooth probably will tip somewhat as it is intruded

Root movement
keeping the crown stationary and applying a moment and force to
move the root
the center of rotation is at the incisal edge
root movement requires a large moment
concentration of stress is in the apex area
M/F = at or above 12:1

Optimum forces for orthodontic tooth

movement
Force* (gm)

Type of movement

35-60

Tipping

70-120

Translation

50-100

Root uprighting

35-60

Rotation

35-60

Extrusion

10-20

Intrusion

*values depend n part on the size of the tooth, smaller values

appropriate for incisors, higher values for multirooted posterior teeth.

Effects of force duration and force decay

 animal experiments

after about 4 hours, cyclic nucleotide

levels increased
clinical experiments

threshold for tooth movement is in

the 4-8 hours range

longer force maintenance

increasingly effective tooth

movement
fixed appliances are more effective unless the removable appliance
used almost all the time

Duration of force has another aspect, related to how force

magnitude changes as the tooth responds by moving.

From this perspective, orthodontic force duration is

classified by the rate of decay as:
Interrupted force
Intermittent - force

Continuous force

Continuous force

Interrupted force

Intermittent force

 theoretically light continuous forces produce the must efficient

tooth movement.
the heavier forces are physiologically acceptable only if:
force levels decline so that there is a period of repair and
regeneration

before the next activation

or
the force decreases at least to the point that no second and
third rounds

of undermining resorption occur

 Experiments has shown that orthodontic appliances should not

be reactivated more frequently than at 3 week intervals.

A 4 to 6 week appointment cycle is more typical in clinical

practice.

Undermining resorption requires 7 to 14 days : equal or longer

period is need for PDL regeneration and repair before force is
applied again.

ks for your attention