title: The anatomical evaluation of the dental arches using cone beam computed tomography--an investigation of the availability of bone for placement of mini-screws.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the amount of maxillary and mandibular inter-radicular bone mass and determine the most reliable mini-screw placement sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images of 40 Angle Class I subjects (20 females, 20 males, aged 16 to 32) were obtained. Measurements on the buccal (BI), medial (MI) and lingual (LI) sides of the inter-radicular spaces were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mm from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) in an apical direction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male and female BI scores ranged from 2.99±0.73 mm to 6.18±1.03 mm and 2.69±0.84 mm to 6.21±1.22 mm respectively. The male and female MI scores ranged from 1.36±0.38 mm to 4.50±0.99 and 1.53±0.66 to 4.77±1.99 mm respectively. LI scores ranged from 2.37±0.70 to 6.47±1.0 mm and 2.45±0.56 mm and 6.66±1.33 mm respectively. In both maxillary and mandibular arch, the inter-radicular space increased in the apical direction except for the buccal and medial inter-radicular spaces between the maxillary first and second molars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The medial inter-radicular spaces are the decisive parameter for mini-screw placement. In the maxillary arch, regions between central and lateral incisors, lateral incisor and canine, first and second molars are not viable for mini-screw insertion. The residual inter-radicular regions are proper for implantation at 3 mm above the CEJ. In the mandible, the regions between incisors and canines are too narrow for mini-screw insertion and the reliable sites for mini-screws are regions between premolars, molars or first molar and second premolar at 2 mm below the CEJ.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Chung H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kau
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Souccar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid; D001863:Bone Screws; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003724:Dental Arch; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014086:Tooth Mobility / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants