Buccal cortical bone thickness evaluation using tomographic imaging prior mini implant placement

Abstract

The mini implants, which were originally designed to fix bony segments, has shown greatpromise as a simpler and more versatile solution for obtaining absolute anchorage, No Osseointegration is required. Mini implants are placed in many anatomic sites, depending on theindication and the biomechanics used. One of the most popular sites of placement is the buccalcortical plate of mandible. So that this study was done to evaluate the tomographic imaging inmeasuring buccal cortical bone thickness as an adjunctive radiographic technique for anappropriate mini implants site selection. 30 patients were imaged by using a tomographictechnique from planmeca panoramic machine (planmeca Promax, Helsinki, Finland) mesial tomandibular first molars choosing'' mixed tomo,'' ''3xCRS 1 LNG'' (3 cross sectional and 1longitudinal) with 95s radiographic time, 1 mA and 68 kV parameters, making measurements byusing planmeca Romexis software 3.1.1.R version at four deferent levels 2,4,6,8 mm from thealveolar crest with 0.1mm width cursor to measure the buccal cortical bone thickness prior miniimplants placement . This study was resulted in that by comparing with panoramic radiograph,measuring cortical bone thickness, intercortical bone thickness and interradicular space usingtomographic radiograph become a more valuable wise than panoramic radiograph. In conclusion,tomographic radiograph may acquire a new radiographic indication prior mini implantsplacement for orthodontic anchorage replacing dental panoramic radiograph and periapicalradiograph.