Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this preliminary study was to assess changes in tooth length and alveolar thickness following retraction of maxillary incisors. Methods: A total of 11 patients presenting severe maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion revealed by initial (T1) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and whose treatment plan included extraction of maxillary first premolars and retraction of maxillary incisors, were selected and submitted to CBCT examination one month after the end of incisors retraction (T2). The premaxilla was assessed through seven axial slices by means of Dolphin ImagingTM software. In each of these slices, five measurements of the distance from the buccal cortical bone to the palatal cortical bone were performed. Tooth length of maxillary incisors (n = 44) was also measured in sagittal slices. Measurements were repeated after a two-week interval, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to test examiner calibration. Wilcoxon test was used to detect differences in measurements performed at the two time intervals. Results: The ICC was satisfactory for tooth length (0.890) and for premaxilla alveolar thickness measurements (0.980). Analysis of data showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in tooth length or alveolar thickness between the two-time intervals assessed. Conclusion: The force used in retraction of maxillary incisors in this research did not promote significant changes in tooth length of maxillary incisors or in premaxilla alveolar thickness.
Highlights
The current objectives of orthodontic treatment are based, among other factors, in the quest for adequate occlusion and esthetics associated with long-term maintenance of results.[1]
An example of an undesirable effect of extensive retraction of maxillary incisors is the increase in thickness of the buccal cortical bone, which may result from lack of balance between bone resorption and neoformation, and depends on the amplitude, direction and quantity of movement, as well as on changes in tooth tipping.[3]
With the advent of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), achieving images of craniofacial structures with good accuracy has become possible. These images are used as an aid in treatment plan of patients in need of complex orthodontic treatment, as they allow assessment of tridimensional morphological changes resulting from treatment and/or growth.[5]
Summary
The aim of this preliminary study was to assess changes in tooth length and alveolar thickness following retraction of maxillary incisors. Results: The ICC was satisfactory for tooth length (0.890) and for premaxilla alveolar thickness measurements (0.980). Analysis of data showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in tooth length or alveolar thickness between the two-time intervals assessed. Conclusion: The force used in retraction of maxillary incisors in this research did not promote significant changes in tooth length of maxillary incisors or in premaxilla alveolar thickness. Objetivo: o objetivo deste estudo preliminar foi avaliar as alterações no comprimento dentário e na espessura alveolar durante a retração dos incisivos superiores. Conclusões: as forças atuantes na retração dos incisivos, nessa pesquisa, não provocaram alterações significativas no comprimento dentário dos incisivos superiores, nem mudanças na espessura alveolar da pré-maxila. » Patients displayed in this article previously approved the use of their facial and intraoral photographs
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