A pilot study evaluating periodontal status and salivary matrix metalloproteinases-8 levels during orthodontic tooth movement in subjects with healthy and compromised periodontium

Objectives: Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) involves bone remodeling influenced by mechanical forces and inflammation. Matrix metalloproteinases 8 (MMP-8) serves as a key biomarker of periodontal response. This study aims to evaluate and compare periodontal status and salivary MMP-8 levels during OTM in individuals with healthy and compromised periodontium. Material and Methods: This pilot study included 24 orthodontic patients (18–30 years), divided into healthy and compromised periodontium groups. The sample was convenience-based. Periodontal parameters (bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level (CAL)) were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Salivary MMP-8 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays at baseline and after alignment. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to evaluate alveolar bone levels in compromised patients at baseline and 9 months. Results: Both groups showed improvement in clinical periodontal parameters over time. MMP-8 levels increased significantly in both groups during early treatment. In the compromised group, CBCT demonstrated a small but statistically significant increase in alveolar bone loss over the study period. The intergroup difference in MMP-8 change approached but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Within the limitations of a small convenience-based sample and short-term follow-up, OTM following periodontal stabilization was associated with improvement in clinical periodontal parameters in both groups. However, the observed increase in alveolar bone loss among periodontally compromised patients should be interpreted with caution, and definitive conclusions regarding the safety or equivalence of the treatment cannot be established without long-term follow-up.