Comparative evaluation of pentraxin 3 levels in GCF during canine retraction with active tieback and NiTi coil spring: An in vivo study

OBJECTIVES: To compare the levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX-3) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients undergoing orthodontic canine retraction with active tieback and nickel titanium (NiTi) coil spring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients of the age group 15-25 years with first premolar extraction undergoing canine retraction were selected. One month after placement of 0.019" × 0.025" stainless steel wire, canine retraction was started with active tieback (150 g force) on upper right quadrant and NiTi coil spring (150 g force) on upper left quadrant. GCF samples were collected 1 h before commencement of canine retraction and thereafter at intervals of 1 h, 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks after application of force. The collected GCF was eluted from the microcapillary pipette in 100 μl phosphate-buffered saline (pH 5-7.2). The samples were analyzed for PTX-3 levels by the ELISA technique. RESULTS: The mean levels of PTX-3 at 1 h before canine retraction (baseline) was 1.30 ± 0.22 ng/ml and at 1 h 1.66 ± 0.33 ng/ml, 1 day 2.65 ± 0.09 ng/ml, 1 week 1.96 ± 0.15 ng/ml, and 2 weeks 1.37 ± 0.18 ng/ml in active tieback group. The mean levels of PTX-3 at 1 h before canine retraction was 1.32 ± 0.30 ng/ml, and at 1 h 1.71 ± 0.39 ng/ml, 1 day 2.78 ± 0.12 ng/ml, 1 week 2.52 ± 0.18 ng/ml, and 2 weeks 2.12 ± 0.17 ng/ml in NiTi coil spring group. A significant difference of P < 0.001 was found in PTX-3 levels in GCF during canine retraction between active tieback and NiTi coil spring at 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: The results showed that PTX-3 levels increased from 1 h after application of orthodontic force and reached peak at 1 day, followed by a gradual decrease at 1 week and 2 weeks in both active tie back and NiTi coil spring groups.