Interrelationship between the menstrual cycle and the phenomena associated with orthodontic tooth movement in young female patients: a systematic review.

Purpose: Alterations in the levels of female sex hormones throughout the menstrual cycle can affect bone turnover, which, in turn, may influence the phenomena related to orthodontic tooth movement. The aim of the present study was to investigate in a systematic manner and summarize the existing evidence regarding the interrelationship between the menstrual cycle and the phenomena associated with orthodontic treatment in young females.

Method: An unrestricted search was performed. Studies investigating the interdependence between the menstrual cycle in young females and the phenomena associated with tooth movement were reviewed. Study retrieval and selection were followed by extraction of relevant data and risk of bias assessment with the Cochrane ROB 2 tool for randomized controlled studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the remaining studies.

Results: Finally, seven studies, with variable risk of bias, met the inclusion criteria. Overall, force application during menstruation led to greater tooth movement. Orthodontic pain increased when forces were applied in the luteal phase and was exacerbated when patients presented with primary dysmenorrhea. Orthodontic treatment did not affect the duration of menstrual bleeding or cycle length in the long term.

Conclusion: The menstrual cycle may exert an effect on the phenomena associated with orthodontic tooth movement: an orthodontist should therefore be able to identify possible repercussions.