3d-imaging-pdl-collagen-fibers-during-orthodontic-tooth-movement

3D Imaging of PDL Collagen Fibers during Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mandibular Murine Model

Orthodontic tooth movement is a complex biological process of altered soft and hard tissue remodeling as a result of external forces. In order to ...

School of Dental Medicine, Harvard University

Ligaments serve as compliant connectors between hard tissues. In that role, they function under various load regimes and directions. The 3D structure of ligaments is considered to form as a uniform entity that changes due to function. The periodontal ligament (PDL) connects the tooth to the bone and sustains different types of loads in various directions. Using the PDL as a model, employing a fabricated motorized setup in a microCT, we demonstrate that the fibrous network structure within the PDL is not uniform, even before the tooth becomes functional. Utilizing morphological automated segmentation methods, directionality analysis, as well as second harmonic generation imaging, we find high correlation between blood vessel distribution and fiber density. We also show a structural feature in a form of a dense collar around the neck of the tooth as well as a preferred direction of the fibrous network. Finally, we show that the PDL develops as a nonuniform structure, with an architecture designed to sustain specific types of load in designated areas. Based on these findings, we propose that ligaments in general should be regarded as nonuniform entities, structured already at developmental stages for optimal functioning under variable load regimes.

Nonuniformity in ligaments is a structural strategy for optimizing functionality.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a critical player in the maintenance of tooth health, acting as the primary stabilizer of tooth position. Recent studies have identified two unique regions within the PDL, the 'dense collar' region and the 'furcation' region, which exhibit distinct structural and compositional differences. However, specific functional differences between these regions have yet to be investigated. We adapted an AFM-based nanoscale rheology method to regionally assess mechanical properties and poroelasticity in the mouse PDL while minimizing the disruption of the 3-dimensional native boundary conditions, and then explored tissue mechanical function in four different regions within the dense collar as well as in the furcation region. We found significant differences between the collar and furcation regions, with the collar acting as a stabilizing ligamentous structure and the furcation acting as both a compressive cushion for vertical forces and a conduit for nutrient transport. While this finding supports our hypothesis, based on previous studies investigating structural and compositional differences, we also found surprising inhomogeneity within the collar region itself. This inhomogeneity supports previous findings of a tilting movement in the buccal direction of mandibular molar teeth and the structural adaptation to prevent lingual movement. Future work will aim to understand how different regions of the PDL change functionally during biological or mechanical perturbations, such as orthodontic tooth movement, development, or aging, with the ultimate goal of better understanding the mechanobiology of the PDL function in health and disease.

Gili R. S. Naveh

Department of Oral Medicine,
Infection and Immunity,
Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity

School of Dental Medicine, Harvard University

3D Imaging of PDL Collagen Fibers during Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mandibular Murine Model

Gili R. S. Naveh

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Oral Medicine,Infection and Immunity,Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity

School of Dental Medicine, Harvard University

3D Imaging of PDL Collagen Fibers during Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mandibular Murine Model

Department of Oral Medicine,
Infection and Immunity,
Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity