Effects of local administration of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on orthodontic tooth movement in rats

Tooth movement rates can be inhibited by prostaglandin inhibitors acting systemically. We investigated the locally delivered effects of ketorolac tromethamine (KT), a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on orthodontic tooth movements in twelve Wistar rats. U-shaped expansion springs were positioned between upper first molars exerting equal and reciprocal, laterally directed forces for seventeen days. Every fourth day 1.5 mg of KT in solution was delivered around one molar and saline solution was injected adjacent to the contralateral molar. Subsequent to a wash-out period lasting fifteen days of continued expansion, the appliances were removed, the teeth allowed to relapse for thirteen days while the same schedule was maintained for the NSAID delivery. Combining the data from all the teeth that received KT and comparing those with the control data, no significant differences were seen with their movements during the expansion or relapse phases.