MCQs on Historical Theories of Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Question 1:

Which theory proposed that bone bending was responsible for orthodontic tooth movement?

  • A. Piezo-electric forces theory
  • B. Pressure-tension hypothesis
  • C. Bone bending theory
  • D. Mechanotransduction theory

Answer: C. Bone bending theory

Question 2:

What was the main flaw in the pressure-tension hypothesis?

  • A. It assumed a closed system for the periodontal ligament.
  • B. It did not consider the role of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
  • C. It failed to account for the electrical effects in bone.
  • D. It disregarded the influence of cytokines and growth factors.

Answer: A. It assumed a closed system for the periodontal ligament.

Question 3:

Which theory suggested that electrical effects in bone were responsible for orthodontic tooth movement?

  • A. Piezo-electric forces theory
  • B. Pressure-tension hypothesis
  • C. Bone bending theory
  • D. Mechanotransduction theory

Answer: A. Piezo-electric forces theory

Question 4:

According to Meikle’s overview, what is the primary mechanism underlying orthodontic tooth movement?

  • A. Bone bending
  • B. Electrical effects
  • C. Mechanotransduction
  • D. Pressure-tension

Answer: C. Mechanotransduction

Question 5:

Which of the following theories have been largely discounted by contemporary research?

  • A. Bone bending and pressure-tension hypothesis
  • B. Piezo-electric forces theory
  • C. Mechanotransduction theory
  • D. All of the above

Answer: A. Bone bending and pressure-tension hypothesis

Historical Theories of Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Bone Bending Theory:

  • Pressure applied to teeth bends the bone.
  • This bending triggers bone resorption and deposition, similar to what happens in long bones.

Pressure-Tension Hypothesis:

  • Forces applied to teeth are transmitted through the periodontal ligament to the bone.
  • Differential pressures in the periodontal ligament cause bone remodeling.
  • This theory has been largely dismissed due to the hydrostatic nature of the periodontal ligament.

Piezoelectric Forces Theory:

  • Bending bone generates electrical charges (piezoelectric and streaming potentials).
  • These electrical charges were thought to be responsible for bone remodeling.
  • However, it’s now believed that these electrical effects are a secondary phenomenon and not the primary cause of bone remodeling.

Contemporary Understanding:

  • Orthodontic tooth movement is a complex biological process.
  • Mechanical forces applied to teeth trigger a series of cellular responses.
  • Osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells, play a crucial role in this process.
  • They respond to mechanical stimuli by producing signaling molecules (cytokines).
  • These signaling molecules influence the behavior of other cells involved in bone remodeling.

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