The aim of the present investigation was to develop a new cleft model in rats that allows alveolar cleft repair and subsequent tooth movement.
A complete continuity-interrupting alveolar cleft was performed on the left-side maxillae of 33 rats through ultrasonic surgery. The clefts were filled with bone wax, and microCT scans were done to analyze the cleft size. After four weeks, the cleft repair was completed using autologous, xenogeneic (human), or synthetic bone substitute. After an additional four weeks, the orthodontic tooth movement was initiated.
Fourteen rats died during the research, and the study design was constantly adapted accordingly. The main reasons for death included breathing problems during or immediately after the experimental activities (eight animals), followed by two deaths due to circulatory failures. In the remaining 19 animals, the average cleft size was about 2.70 ± 0.46 × 2.01 ± 0.25 × 1.18 ± 0.20 mm, and the mean velocity of orthodontic tooth movement after seven days was between 0.21 ± 0.08 mm in the autologous group and 0.50 ± 0.54 mm in the xenogeneic group. After 56 days, the mean values ranged between 0.67 ± 0.27 mm in the autologous group and 0.82 ± 0.72 mm in the synthetic group.
Surgical interventions in the oral cavity of rats requires a stronger anesthesia and lead to increased risk of coolant and coagulated blood aspiration. The new alveolar cleft model in rats allows for subsequent orthodontic tooth movement after cleft repair, but only in the mesial root of the first molar.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

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