Bone density measurement in interdental areas with simulated placement of orthodontic miniscrew implants.
BACKGROUND
The purposes of this study were to determine bone density at various orthodontic implant sites and compare them according to depth and area (anterior and posterior, buccal and lingual, and maxilla and mandible).


METHODS
Maxillofacial computed tomography scan data were obtained from 30 adults with normal occlusion. Bone density was recorded in Hounsfield units with simulated placement of miniscrews with the V-Implant program (CyberMed, Seoul, Korea). Bone density was measured to a depth of 6 mm at 1-mm intervals in 60 interdental areas (30 in the maxilla, 30 in the mandible), and mean bone density was calculated at each site.


RESULTS
Bone density tended to decrease with increasing depth, particularly in the posterior area. Mean bone density showed a progressive increase from posterior to anterior except for the mandibular buccal side, which had no significant differences. A comparison of the mean bone densities between the buccal and lingual sides in the mandible showed that the lingual side had higher values in the anterior area and vice versa in the posterior area. On the other hand, there were no distinct differences between the buccal and lingual sides in the maxilla. A comparison of the mean bone densities between the maxilla and the mandible showed higher values in the mandible, and these differences were more significant on the buccal side of the posterior.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in bone densities according to depth and area should be considered when selecting and placing miniscrew implants for orthodontic anchorage.
Choi
Jin-Hugh
JH
Division of Orthodontics, Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Chang-Hun
CH
Yi
Seung-Won
SW
Lim
Hoi-Jeong
HJ
Hwang
Hyeon-Shik
HS
D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015519:Bone Density; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult