NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)-Their Effects and Side Effects in Orthodontic Therapy-A Review

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is a complex process involving physiologic processes resulting in remodelling changes in the paradental tissues which are essential in orthodontic correction of tooth position. Medications have an influence on tooth movement and information on their consumption is essential to discuss treatment planning with patients. Various drugs either prescribed by the clinician or consumed by the patients enter the circulation and may be inhibitory, additive or synergise with the movement of teeth. Tooth movement through the remeodelling of bone is regulated by prostaglandins (PG) which play a direct role in bone resorption and is adversely affected by the use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) with research and clinical experience suggesting that their use slows down tooth movement due to a reduction in the number of osteoclastic cells. Since tooth movement is the key principle behind orthodontic treatment, any factor affecting the biologic response towards applied mechanical force is deemed to affect orthodontic treatment duration as well as efficacy. The purpose of this review article is to update the clinician on the role of most commonly used pharmaceutical drugs capable of affecting bone metabolism and rate of orthodontic tooth movement so that best therapeutic strategy can be formulated for an individual.