High-resolution micro-computed tomography assessment of human maxillary cortical microarchitectural patterns during...

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• Cortical bone microarchitecture in adult maxillae correlates with occlusal stress.
• Maxillary microarchitectural changes during permanent tooth eruption remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate maxillary cortical bone microarchitectural changes during permanent tooth eruption in subadults.
• To analyze buccal and palatal patterns using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).

Main Methods:

• Subadult maxillary bone samples were categorized into four groups based on first, second, and third permanent molar eruption stages.
• Micro-CT was employed to assess cortical porosity, thickness, and pore separation.

Main Results:

• A trend of decreasing total and open cortical porosity was observed.
• Increasing cortical thickness and pore separation were noted during permanent tooth eruption.
• Functional loads, including occlusal forces and tongue contact, appear to influence these microarchitectural changes.

Conclusions:

• Permanent tooth eruption induces specific microarchitectural alterations in the subadult maxillary bone.
• These findings have potential clinical relevance for orthodontic treatment and understanding occlusal development.
• Further research with detailed micro-scale bone quality assessments is warranted.