The effects of splinting wire material and dimension on ankylosis and root resorption in luxated incisors: a rodent histological study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of using different orthodontic wires for splinting luxated teeth on the development of ankylosis and root resorption in rats. METHODS: Fifty rats were anaesthetised and subjected to a controlled luxation trauma affecting their right maxillary incisor, then randomly divided into five groups (n = 10) based on the splinting material (stainless steel [SS] or nickel-titanium [NiTi]) and diameter (0.017 × 0.025 and 0.016-inch wires). The lower incisors served as the control group. Half of the rats were sacrificed after 12 and the remaining after 24 weeks. Tissue sections were investigated for external root resorption and ankylosis under a light microscope. RESULTS: The incidence of root resorption and ankylosis did not differ significantly between wire sizes and materials (p > 0.05). No significant histological difference was observed between the 12- and 24-week groups. In contrast, control teeth in all groups exhibited significantly lower rates of ankylosis and root resorption compared to splinted teeth. CONCLUSION: Splinting with NiTi or SS wires (0.017 × 0.025 and 0.016-inch) has a similar risk of ankylosis and root resorption. Duration of splinting did not affect histological outcomes.