Effects of the diameter and shape of orthodontic mini-implants on microdamage to the cortical bone.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the diameter and shape of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) on microdamage to the cortical bone during implant placement.


METHODS
Twenty-eight self-drilling OMIs (Biomaterials Korea, Seoul, Korea; length, 6 mm; diameters, 1.5 and 2 mm; cylindrical and tapered shapes; classified as 1.5C, 2C, 1.5T, and 2T) were placed with a surgical device in the tibias of 7 New Zealand white rabbits (mature males; mean age, 6 months; mean weight, 3.1 kg). Four OMIs of each type per rabbit were placed randomly. Maximum insertion torque (MIT) was measured. Immediately after placement of the OMIs, the block of bone with the OMI was harvested. Cortical bone thickness was measured by using microcomputed tomography, and histomorphometric analyses of the number of cracks (NC), accumulated crack length (ACL), maximum radius of the crack (MRC), and longest crack (LC) were performed. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests with the Bonferroni adjustment were done for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
Increased diameter (1.5C<2C and 1.5T<2T) and tapering (1.5C<2T) resulted in increased values of MIT, NC, and LC (P <0.01, respectively). Similarly, with increased diameters (1.5C and 1.5T<2C and 2T), there were increases of ACL and MRC (P <0.001, respectively). However, there were no differences in the values of MIT, NC, ACL, MRC, and LC between the cylindrical and tapered OMIs with the same diameters (1.5C and 1.5T, 2C and 2T).


CONCLUSIONS
OMIs with larger diameters and tapered shapes caused greater microdamage to the cortical bone; this might affect bone remodeling and the stability of the OMIs.
Lee
Nam-Ki
NK
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Baek
Seung-Hak
SH
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020007:Implants, Experimental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D011817:Rabbits; D013977:Tibia