Introduction to OTM Animal Models

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) animal models are crucial experimental systems for investigating the mechanisms underlying tooth mobility and periodontal tissue remodeling under orthodontic forces. These models typically involve the placement of orthodontic appliances—such as nickel‑titanium closing springs, elastic ligatures, or ligature wires—between the teeth of laboratory animals like mice, rats, or rabbits, thereby applying a sustained, constant traction force to induce controlled tooth movement. During this process, characteristic biological changes can be observed, including alveolar bone resorption and formation, periodontal ligament remodeling, and the activation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Orthodontic animal models effectively mimic the clinical orthodontic treatment process.

Advantages of Aniphe BioLab’s OTM Animal Model Platform Services

Aniphe BioLab has established a well‑established animal model platform for orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), offering specialized preclinical research services to support studies on the mechanisms of tooth movement, alveolar bone remodeling, and the development of orthodontic‑related therapeutics.

	The modeling protocol is well-established. Classical orthodontic appliances, such as nickel-titanium closed springs and elastic chains, are employed to deliver consistent, stable orthodontic forces, ensuring excellent model reproducibility.
	The model is stable and reliable. Tooth movement distance, periodontal tissue remodeling, and bone remodeling exhibit high phenotypic consistency.
	The evaluation system has been improved. It is capable of performing dental movement measurements, Micro-CT analyses, and histopathological and molecular biological assays.
	Multidimensional Mechanism Research It supports research directions including osteoclast activation, osteoblast regulation, periodontal ligament remodeling, and root resorption.
	One-stop experimental services We offer a comprehensive solution encompassing model development, sample collection, imaging analysis, and statistical data analysis.

Modeling cycle	4–8 weeks
Laboratory animals	Adult male SD/Wistar rats
Positive drug	Commonly used drugs that promote tooth movement or bone remodeling include prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ (active vitamin D₃), among others; positive control agents that inhibit tooth movement or bone resorption include sodium alendronate and zoledronic acid.
Application areas	It is primarily used for research on tooth‑movement mechanisms, alveolar bone remodeling and bone‑metabolism regulation, orthodontic‑related root resorption, as well as preclinical efficacy evaluation of drugs, biomaterials, and regenerative‑medicine products aimed at promoting tooth movement, accelerating bone regeneration, and mitigating orthodontic complications.

Construction of OTM Animal Models

The classic method for establishing orthodontic animal models typically employs rats, in which a constant orthodontic force is applied by installing devices such as nickel‑titanium closed coil springs between the maxillary incisors and the first molars, thereby inducing directed tooth movement. Specifically, under anesthesia, one end of the spring is ligated to the incisor, while the other end is passed anterior to the molar and secured there; the spring is then stretched to generate a predetermined force (commonly 10–100 g in rats). Following force application, the rate of tooth movement is assessed by periodically measuring the distance of molar displacement. This approach is simple to perform, highly standardized, and widely used in studies investigating the mechanisms of orthodontic bone remodeling and the effects of pharmacological interventions.