Buccal cortical bone thickness in different sagittal skeletal relationship

Purpose

To assess buccal cortical bone thickness of the alveolar process in the maxilla and mandible in subjects with different skeletal relationship as an aid in orthodontic miniscrew placement.

Materials and methods

The study was carried out using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 94 adult subjects with skeletal Class I, II or III sagittal relationship and normal mandibular plane angle. Buccal cortical bone thickness was obtained at the alveolar processes from canine to second molar at 2 different vertical levels (6, and 8 mm) from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse differences in cortical bone thickness.

Results

The difference in mean values of buccal Cortical thickness was significant between the three skeletal classes in both arches and all sites except for the site between first and second mandibular molars (P < 0.05). In the mandible, buccal cortical plate was thickest between first and second molar in all skeletal classes. In the maxilla, the highest cortical bone thickness for Class I subjects was between first and second molar, for Class II subjects was between canine and first premolar, and for Class III subjects was between first and second premolar. Mandibular measurements increase apically and posteriorly in all skeletal classes.

Conclusions

Buccal cortical bone thickness could be influenced by skeletal relationship. The mandible shows a similar pattern for all skeletal classes. In the maxilla each skeletal relationship shows a different pattern. Skeletal relationship need to be considered in site choice for miniscrew placement.