Three-D imaging of dental alveolar bone change after fixed orthodontic treatment in patients with periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to radiographically quantify bone height and bone density in patients with periodontitis after fixed orthodontic treatment using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).


METHODS
A total of 81 patients including 40 patients with chronic periodontitis (group 1) and 41 patients with normal periodontal tissues (group 2) were selected. CBCT scanning for anterior teeth were taken before and after orthodontic treatment. Measurements of bone height and bone density were performed using CBCT software.


RESULTS
The group 1 presented a statistically lesser bone density and bone height when compared to group 2 before treatment. There was a significant loss of bone density for both groups after orthodontic treatment, but bone density loss was significantly greater in the group 1. There was no statistically significant bone height change in two groups after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that orthodontic treatment can preserve bone height but not capable of maintaining bone density, especially for patients with periodontitis. It is indicated that the change of bone density may be more susceptible than that of bone height when radiographically evaluating bone status under this combined periodontal and orthodontic therapy.
Department of Oral Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, P. R. China.
Zhi-Gui
ZG
Ma
Department of Oral Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, P. R. China.
Chi
C
Yang
Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, P. R. China.
Bing
B
Fang
Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, P. R. China.
Yun-Hui
YH
Xia
Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, P. R. China.
Li-Xia
LX
Mao
Department of Stomatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University P. R. China.
Yi-Miao
YM
Feng
CBCT; alveolar bone density; alveolar height; periodontal disease; tooth movement