Abstract
The biological effects of the Mandibular lateral expansion appliance were investigated. An orthodontic plate (Schwarz appliance) was mounted on dogs for 56 days. Basal metabolism such as body weight, behavior, appetite and feces, biochemical data on blood (15 items) and effects on the oral mucosa were compared between the test dogs and control dogs without the appliance. The following results were obtained:
1) The body weight of the test dogs was decreased slightly immediately after fixation of the appliance, but then quickly recovered. Little or no difference was observed between the test and control dogs. There was also no significant difference in behavior, appetite and feces between the two groups.
2) Based on the biochemical blood tests, It was found that the activity of alkaline phosphatase increased on the day after fixation of the appliance. The increase was within the normal range, however and the activity returned to a level similar to that before the mounting within approximately one week. The remaining 14 values of the blood tests also showed no significant difference compared to the results of the control dogs.
3) With the examination of the oral mucosa, mild inflammation was found in the buccal and lingual marginal gingiva, while no inflammatory images were observed in the lingual gingiva with which the appliance made contact.
