Correlation of Alveolar Bone Thickness With Inclination of Mandibular Incisors And Depth of Overbite In Patients With Different Vertical Skeletal Patterns
Keywords:
Alveolar bone thickness; Mandibular incisors; Cone-beam computed tomography; Vertical skeletal pattern; Incisor inclination; Deep bite.Abstract
Introduction: Alveolar bone thickness surrounding the mandibular incisors is an important factor influencing orthodontic tooth movement and periodontal stability. Variations in vertical skeletal pattern, incisor inclination, and overbite severity may affect alveolar bone morphology. CBCT enables accurate three-dimensional assessment of these structures.
Objective: To evaluate the association of mandibular incisor alveolar bone thickness with incisor inclination and overbite severity in different vertical skeletal patterns.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included pretreatment CBCT scans and lateral cephalograms of 48 untreated adults. Based on the SN-GoGn angle, subjects were categorized into high-angle, average-angle, and low-angle groups. Alveolar bone thickness was measured on the labial and lingual aspects of mandibular incisors at the crestal, mid-root, and apical levels. Incisor inclination was assessed using IMPA, and overbite severity was clinically categorized. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Significant differences in alveolar bone thickness were observed at specific sites among skeletal patterns. Low-angle subjects exhibited greater labial alveolar bone thickness, whereas high-angle subjects showed comparatively thinner alveolar bone support. IMPA values did not differ significantly among groups. A strong negative correlation was observed between incisor inclination and lingual alveolar crest thickness in high-angle subjects (r = −0.762, p = 0.001). Associations between overbite severity and alveolar bone thickness were limited to specific regions in the high-angle group.
Conclusion: Mandibular incisor alveolar bone thickness varies according to vertical skeletal pattern. High-angle individuals exhibit thinner alveolar bone support and may be at greater risk of periodontal compromise during orthodontic treatment.
