Relationship Between Facial Types and Alveolar Crest Cortical Bone Thickness and CT Values Determined by...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Radiology

Background:

• Facial morphology and alveolar crest cortical bone thickness are crucial in orthodontic treatment planning.
• Understanding the relationship between facial types and bone characteristics can optimize treatment outcomes.
• Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) offers detailed insights into craniofacial structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between facial morphology, specifically the Frankfort mandibular plane angle, and alveolar crest cortical bone thickness.
• To determine computed tomography (CT) values of alveolar bone using MDCT.
• To assess potential differences in bone thickness across various facial types.

Main Methods:

• 39 subjects were classified into low, average, and high Frankfort mandibular plane angle groups.
• MDCT scans were used to measure alveolar crest cortical bone thickness and CT values.
• Measurements were taken between canines and first premolars, and second premolars and first molars in the maxilla and mandible.
• Statistical analysis included Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn-Bonferroni tests.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in mandibular alveolar crest cortical bone thickness were found between facial types.
• The high-angle group showed significantly less bone thickness compared to the low-angle group in the mandibular premolar-molar region (p=0.001).
• The average-angle group also exhibited less bone thickness than the low-angle group (p=0.022).

Conclusions:

• Facial type is associated with variations in mandibular alveolar crest cortical bone thickness.
• These differences may indicate varying susceptibility to anchor loss in the mandibular molar region.
• Findings can inform personalized orthodontic treatment planning and management strategies.