Maxillary alveolar bone evaluation following dentoalveolar expansion with clear aligners in adults: A cone-beam computed tomography study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of maxillary orthodontic expansion on the alveolar bone tissue in adult patients treated with aligners by using cone-beam computed tomography.

Methods: Thirty patients (22 females and 8 males; mean age: 36.3 years) were treated with Invisalign^® aligners. Cone-beam computed tomography and digital models were obtained before (T0) and after (T1) upper arch expansion. The bone thicknesses in the cervical, middle, and apical areas of the incisors, canines, premolar, and first molars were buccally and palatally measured, totaling 96 areas and 2,880 measurements. The buccolingual inclinations and transverse measurements of the teeth were obtained from digital models to correlate them with the bone changes. The statistical tests used were Student's t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation tests (p < 0.05).

Results: From the 96 areas evaluated, 84 revealed an increase or stability in the alveolar bone thickness and twelve displayed significant bone loss. Bone changes did not correlate with the tooth inclination and transverse measurements.

Conclusions: Within the limitation of the present study, mild levels of upper arch expansion obtained with Invisalign^® aligners in adult patients did not result in any clinically significant loss of alveolar bone thickness.