Hormonal changes in female patients during pregnancy and lactation that affect the course of orthodontic treatment (literature review)

Orthodontic tooth movement is a non-infectious inflammatory process characterized by osteogenesis on the tension side and resorption on the pressure side. When orthodontic force is applied to a tooth and transmitted to the periodontal tissues, it triggers a series of biological signals that remodel the alveolar bone, allowing the tooth to move to a new position during periodontal remodeling. In pregnant and breastfeeding women, many hormonal changes occur during this period, affecting both soft and hard tissues of the body. Fluctuations in the levels of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, and other hormones are directly related to bone tissue remodeling and the response of periodontal tissues. Thyrotropin, leptin, and melatonin also are important in pregnancy and bone tissue remodeling, potentially influencing orthodontic tooth movement. The application of orthodontic force during pregnancy and lactation can induce a stress response in the endocrine system, leading to changes in hormone levels. Thus, pregnancy and active orthodontic treatment influence each other. However, these changes do not have a negative impact on the mother or the fetus. In this review, we present the relationship between hormone levels and orthodontic tooth movement in pregnant and breastfeeding women, providing information for clinical practice.