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Figure 1. Experimental schedule and orthodontic appliance fixed to the left mandible of the rat. (A) Diagram demonstrates the schedule of the entire experiment in both normal periodontium and hypofunctional periodontium groups. Hypofunctional periodontium was established by 3 wks in the hypofunctional periodontium group. (B) The hypofunctional left mandibular first molar was mesio-occlusally moved by an orthodontic appliance consisting of a 1.0-mm-diameter, 3.5-mm-long titanium-screw implant fixed to the left body of the mandible, with a 1.2-mm-diameter cobalt-chromium alloy wire extending along the incisal axis and a 2-mm-long 50-gram-force titanium-nickel alloy closed-coil spring. On the occlusal surfaces of the left maxillary third molar and right maxillary first to third molars (not shown), composite resin was applied for bite-raising in the hypofunctional periodontium group.
