Orthodontic tooth movement: The biology and clinical implications

Abstract

Orthodontics is a special discipline dedicated to the investigation and practice of moving teeth through the bone. Moving teeth through the dentoalveolar complex is a synergistic sequence of physical phenomenon and biological tissue remodeling. The physical behavior of tooth movement due to orthodontic force relies on Newton's Laws. The tooth biological system reacts to variation in force magnitude, time of application and directionality through receptor cells and signaling cascades that ultimately produce bone remodeling and orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). This review focuses on the biology of tooth movement and its implication in clinical orthodontics.