Locating possible micro-osteoperforation sites and alveolar bone thickness by CBCT among kurdish young adults with class I skeletal relationship

Objectives. Micro-osteoperforation (MOP) was introduced as a minimum invasive surgical intervention employed to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement. This study aimed to determine proposed MOP sites with the available alveolar bone thickness (ABT) needed in the maxilla (Mx.) and the mandible (Mand.) at both genders using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods. Pre-operative CBCT images of 48 skeletal Class I relationship (18-30yrs old) patients (22 males, 26 females) were analyzed. NewTom’s NNT software was used to measure ABT. Measurements were done in 13 bilateral Mx. and Mand. inter-radicular sites at 3 levels corresponding to the proposed MOP sites. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21 was used. Descriptive statistic values and Independent samples t-test were used to test the gender and Mx.-Mand. ABT difference, P ≤0.05. Results. There was a general tendency toward increasing ABT gradually from the inter-incisal region distally toward the molar and from near cement-enamel junction toward the apical region in Mx. arch in both genders. In Mand., the same trend was observed as in Mx., especially for the males. No statistically significant gender ABT difference found at both dental arches except those of females who had significantly higher Mx. ABT at specific locations. No statistically significant difference was found in the comparison between both dental arches at P ≤ 0.05 except for certain locations where the Mx. had significantly larger values than Mand. Conclusions. The outcome of this study can facilitate the site selection for the orthodontic MOPs beside mini-screws. As a clinical consideration, the best and the safest sites of MOPs can be specified for clinicians.