Comparative evaluation of pulpal blood flow during incisor intrusion.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF) as a result of maxillary incisor intrusion achieved by one of two methods (utility arches or mini-implants).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty subjects were divided into three groups, the first of which underwent maxillary incisor intrusion using utility arches (UA) and a second group, intrusion via mini-implants (MI). The third group acted as a control. An intrusive force of 100 g was applied to the upper incisors in the treatment groups, whereas no force was applied to the anterior teeth in the control group. A laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) was used to measure PBF at baseline (T0) and during incisor intrusion at 24 hours (T1), three days (T2), seven days (T3) and three weeks (T4). Statistical changes in PBF were assessed by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The mean PBF in the UA and MI groups decreased significantly from T0 to T1 (p < 0.001), slightly increased at T2 and continued to increase gradually at T3. PBF attained levels similar to those measured prior to intrusion at T4. No significant changes in PBF were observed in the control group over the course of the study. The only statistically significant difference between the UA and MI groups were at T1 and T2, at which time the MI group had lower PBF values (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite slight regressive changes in pulpal tissue observed over the short-term, PBF values tended to return to initial levels within three weeks, indicating that changes observed in PBF with the UA and MI intrusion methods are reversible. Although the changes in PBF could not be directly related to the method of intrusion employed, in general, a more severe drop in PBF was observed in the MI group during the first three days of intrusion.