The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on orthodontic tooth movement in the guinea pig.

This study examined the influence of acetylsalicylic acid an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, on orthodontic tooth movement induced with light spring forces in the guinea pig. The animal model was shown to permit reliable and accurate recording of tooth movement up to 28 days. Tooth movement was found to be highly correlated with spring forces, indicating that the model provided a sensitive test of the effect of aspirin on tooth movement. Aspirin was administered orally at the rate of 65 mg/kg per day in three divided doses and was found to effectively inhibit prostaglandin synthesis at the level of the bronchioles. However, aspirin did not appear to significantly affect tooth movement. Thus prostaglandins may not be the only mediators of the bone resorption associated with tooth movement induced by light orthodontic forces under these experimental conditions.