Study of alveolar ridge dimensions before and after orthodontic treatment in maxillary lateral incisor agenesis: A pilot study.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to compare the dimensional changes in the alveolar ridge before, at the end of, and one year after orthodontic treatment in cases of Maxillary Lateral Incisor Agenesis and the possibility of using plaster models and panoramic radiographs as substitutes for cone beam-computed tomography.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 228 measurements were performed on plaster models and panoramic radiographs: before (T1), at the end of (T2), and 1 year after orthodontic treatment (T3). At stage T2, the cone beam-computed tomography was also analyzed. Non-parametric tests were used.

RESULTS

In all 3 stages, there was no statistically significant difference regarding the thickness of the models, the height of the bone in the panoramic radiographs, the space opening and the height of the bone in the panoramic radiographs, or the space opening in the models and the thickness in the same plaster models. However, a statistically significant difference was observed for the width in the panoramic radiograph during all 3 stages. Cone beam-computed tomography did not reveal a statistically significant correlation regarding the height and width of the bone compared with the panoramic radiographs, and the thickness as compared with plaster models.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant variation in thickness, height and width of the bone over time. It was demonstrated that plaster models and panoramic radiographs do not appear to be good substitutes for cone beam-computed tomography for these specific measurements.