Did you get your braces on and need some Asprin for the discomfort? Will that effect your treatment and slow it down? These questions are addressed in this systematic review of the literature!
Topic: Does Aspirin Inhibit orthodontic tooth movement?
Article reference in AJODO format:
Arias OR, Marquez-Orozco MC. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen: their effects on orthodontic tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2006;130:364-370.
Research Type
Animal Research
Materials & Methods
Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats were divided in 4 groups of 9 each. Orthodontic appliances were placed on the rats’ incisors. In the 3 experimental groups, analgesics were diluted in reverse osmosis water and delivered via a gastric tube: 100 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid, or 30 mg/kg ibuprofen, or 200 mg/kg acetaminophen. Control animals received only the reverse osmosis water. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were killed and histological examinations were performed.
Results (The most significant results in graph, picture, or table format)
Analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences between the control group, which was given reverse osmosis water, and the groups given aspirin and ibuprofen. There were also statistically significant differences between the acetaminophen group and the ibuprofen and aspirin groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the acetaminophen group and the control group, or between the aspirin and ibuprofen groups. Tooth movement was similar in the groups.
Critical Interpretation of the result
The results indicate that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics such as aspirin and ibuprofen diminish the number of osteoclasts, probably by inhibiting the secretion of prostaglandins, thereby reducing orthodontic tooth movement. Acetaminophen did not affect orthodontic tooth movement in rats, and it might be the analgesic of choice for treating pain associated with orthodontic treatment.
Refuting Evidence
Topic: Does Aspirin Inhibit orthodontic tooth movement?
Article reference in AJODO format:
I could not find any, but found much more that agrees.
Bartzela T, Turp JC, Motschall E, Maltha JC. Medication effects on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic literature review. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2009;135:16-26.
Research Type
Systematic Review
Materials & Methods
A systematic literature review on the effects of medications and dietary supplements on the rate of experimental tooth movement was performed by using PubMed (1953-Oct 2007), Web of Science, and Biosis, complemented by a hand search.
Results
Forty-nine articles were included in the review, but their interpretation was hindered by the variability in experimental design, magnitude of force applied during tooth movement, and medication regimens. Therapeutic administration of eicosanoids resulted in increased tooth movement, whereas their blocking led to a decrease. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decreased tooth movement, but non-NSAID analgesics, such as paracetamol (acetaminophen), had no effect. Corticosteroid hormones, parathyroid hormone, and thyroxin have all been shown to increase tooth movement. Estrogens probably reduce tooth movement, although no direct evidence is available. Vitamin D3 stimulates tooth movement, and dietary calcium seemed to reduce it. Bisphosphonates had a strong inhibitory effect.
Critical Interpretation of the result
NSAIDS result in slower orthodontic tooth movement.
Conclusion
Aspirin and other NSAID drugs all result in slower tooth movement when undergoing orthodontic treatment. Acetaminophen however does not have this detrimental effect and is the drug of choice for treating pain caused my orthodontic treatment.