The lactic acid and citric acid content in the gingival fluid of orthodontic patients.

Alveolar bone turnover has two phases: bone resorption and formation. Bone resorption entails both mineral removal and collagenolysis. A pH decrease over the local bone surface is required for mineral removal. Both lactic acid and citric acid has been suggested as the acids which remove crystals. During the orthodontic movement of teeth, a process of overall bone resorption occurs during displacement, whereas at the retention stage this process needs to be stopped in order to stabilize the alveolar bone. Thus, lactic acid and citric acid may be valid parameters of bone resorption intensity. The purpose of this investigation is firstly to test if these acids can be detected in gingival fluid around the moving teeth, and secondly to find if any changes occur before, during and after orthodontic tooth movement. The results indicate that these acids can be good parameters which show how favorably tooth movement is proceeding. They also show how stable the teeth are when orthodontic force is stopped to apply.