TY - JOUR T1 - A Network-Based Analytical Model Linking Periodontal Inflammatory Burden to Orthodontic Biomechanical Sensitivity A1 - Maria L. Santos A1 - João P. Ribeiro A1 - Ana S. Costa A1 - Miguel T. Fernandes A1 - Inês M. Almeida A1 - Rui A. Carvalho JF - Asian Journal of Periodontics and Orthodontics JO - Asian J Periodontics Orthod SN - 3062-3499 Y1 - 2024 VL - 4 IS - 1 DO - 10.51847/lu1Fr1pECR SP - 206 EP - 214 N2 - The interface between periodontal inflammation and orthodontic tooth movement represents a critical area in dental sciences, where persistent inflammatory states may modulate tissue responses to mechanical stimuli. This conceptual manuscript introduces a novel network-based analytical model that integrates periodontal inflammatory burden—defined as the cumulative and interconnected load of pro-inflammatory mediators, cellular interactions, and tissue alterations—with orthodontic biomechanical sensitivity, conceptualized as the periodontium's propensity to remodel under applied forces. Drawing on recent literature synthesizing osteoimmunological processes, the model posits the periodontium as a dynamic network wherein nodes represent key elements such as cytokines (e.g., IL-6, RANKL), immune cells (e.g., macrophages, T-cells), and structural components (e.g., alveolar bone, periodontal ligament fibers), while edges denote regulatory interactions influenced by inflammatory signals. Inflammatory burden is theorized to amplify network connectivity, thereby heightening biomechanical sensitivity through enhanced signal propagation, potentially leading to altered remodeling thresholds without implying empirical causality. The framework synthesizes theoretical backgrounds from periodontal and orthodontic domains, highlighting gaps in understanding how systemic and local inflammatory networks intersect with force-induced pathways. By framing these interactions analytically, the model offers a foundation for future theoretical explorations, emphasizing the need for integrated perspectives in managing combined periodontal-orthodontic scenarios. This approach underscores the conceptual utility of network theory in elucidating complex biological interplays, without reliance on experimental data. UR - https://tsdp.net/article/a-network-based-analytical-model-linking-periodontal-inflammatory-burden-to-orthodontic-biomechanica-4ts7eeksu0f0orz ER -