Cytokine levels in gingival crevicular fluid samples of patients wearing clear aligners

Sana Bint Aziz; Gurkeerat Singh

doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2020.04.005

Cytokine levels in gingival crevicular fluid samples of patients wearing clear aligners

J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2020 Apr-Jun;10(2):199-202. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2020.04.005. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Authors

Sana Bint Aziz¹, Gurkeerat Singh²

Affiliations

¹ Ex-Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences & Research, Faridabad, India.
² Professor & Head, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences & Research, Faridabad, India.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess & compare the changes in cytokine levels in GCF samples of patients wearing clear aligners.

Methods: GCF samples of 10 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, for correction of lower anterior crowding with clear aligners, were collected on day 0, 1, 3, 7 and 21 using periopaper strips. The upper arch was taken as the control site. The samples collected were further analyzed using commercially available ELISA based kits.

Results: The mean levels of IL-1β at day 0, 1, 3, 7 and 21 were compared between experimental and control sites using unpaired t-test and it was found that the levels of IL-1β were significantly elevated on experimental site in comparison to control site.

Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that elevation in levels of IL-1β as a biomarker of orthodontic tooth movement reaches its peak after 24 h of force application. The clear aligners, as an alternative to conventional fixed orthodontic treatment, were found to be efficient in correcting mild to moderate lower arch crowding.

Keywords: Clear aligners; Cytokines; Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF); Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM).