Response to the Letter
To: Editor, The Angle Orthodontist
Re: Response To: Effect of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) on the rate of tooth movement: A randomized clinical trial; Emire Aybuke Erdur; Kuter Karakaslı; Elif Oncu; Bahadır Ozturk; Sema Hakkı, Angle Orthod. 2021;91:285-292.
Thank you for giving us the chance to respond to Dr. Venkatachalapaty and colleagues about our article. These comments allow us to further clarify some aspects of our research.
All patients attended all of the follow-up visits throughout the study and all completed their treatment.
To assess the method error and intraobserver reliability, 10 randomly selected dental casts were remeasured at a 2-week interval by the same investigator. For the interobserver error, a second investigator measured the same set of models twice, and the mean values of the two measurements by each investigator were compared.
In many peridontal studies, to collect the GCF samples, paper strips were carefully inserted into the crevice and left there 10-30 seconds.1,2 Alikhani et al.1 collected GCF samples by inserting filter-paper strips 1mm below the gingival margin into the distobuccal crevice of the canine for 10 seconds, as in our study. An estimated volume of 0.6 to 1.2 mL of GCF was collected and diluted to obtain the 50 to 100 mL sample required for analysis using a glass slide-based protein array. Also, the process was repeated when the sample was insufficient.
Although the process to give 2ml of intraligamentary i-PRF is difficult, it is not impossible. The study group received i-PRF two times: just after premolar extraction and at the second week of distalization. The contralateral side served as a control and received only a sham injection.
We appreciate your interest in the study.