The Effect of Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate on Root Resorption and Tooth Movement in Rats

  • Dr Nour Eldin Tarraf, The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Dr Lachlan Crowther, The University of Sydney, Australia
  • A/Prof Gang Shen, The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Dr Rema Oliver, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • Prof William Walsh, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • Dr Alan Jones, The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Dr Peter Petocz, The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Prof M. Ali Darendeliler, The University of Sydney

Glucoseamine and Chondroitin Sulfate (GS & CS) are used as anti inflammatory and chondroprotective agents in osteoarthritis, acting by reducing the expression of the same inflammatory agents implicated in tooth movement and root-resorption.
Aim: To examine effect of GS & CS on root-resorption and tooth movement in response to heavy and light orthodontic forces.
Materials and Methods: 80 female Wistar rats were divided into 2 experimental and 2 control groups. Groups 1 and 2 received GS & CS in their diet. One maxillary first molar was moved mesially using a Ni-Ti coil spring applying light (10cN) and heavy (150cN) orthodontic forces respectively. Groups 3 and 4 received a normal diet with light and heavy forces respectively. Appliances were active for 2 weeks. After sacrifice, the maxillary dento-alveolar segments were scanned using Micro CT and digitally analyzed. The total volume of root-resorption craters and the tooth movement distance were estimated.
Results: Root-resorption craters were found to be concentrated at the mesio-cervical portion of the roots. GS & CS were shown to reduce root-resorption by 50% (p=0.007), without affecting tooth movement (p=0.60). There was no difference in the amount of root-resorption between the heavy and light force groups (p=0.85). Heavy forces produced almost double the amount of tooth movement than light forces (p=0.012).
Conclusion: Systemic administration of GS & CS may reduce root-resorption incident to orthodontic tooth movement without affecting the rate of tooth movement. Further research into the mechanism of action of these supplements on the periodontium is required.