OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the cortical bone densities of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes in adults with different vertical facial types using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. METHODS: CBCT images (n = 142) of adult patients (20-45 years) were classified into hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups on the basis of linear and angular S-N/Go-Me measurements. The cortical bone densities (in Hounsfield units) at maxillary and mandibular interdental sites from the distal aspect of the canine to the mesial aspect of the second molar were measured on the images. RESULTS: On the maxillary buccal side, female subjects in the hyperdivergent group showed significantly decreased bone density, while in the posterior region, male subjects in the hyperdivergent group displayed significantly decreased bone density when compared with corresponding subjects in the other groups (p<0.001). Furthermore, the subjects in the hyperdivergent group had significantly lower bone densities on the mandibular buccal side than hypodivergent subjects. The maxillary palatal bone density did not differ significantly among groups, but female subjects showed significantly denser palatal cortical bone. No significant difference in bone density was found between the palatal and buccal sides in the maxillary premolar region. Overall, the palatal cortical bone was denser anteriorly and buccal cortical bone was denser posteriorly. CONCLUSION: Adults with the hyperdivergent facial type tend to have less-dense buccal cortical bone in the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes. Clinicians should be aware of the variability of cortical bone densities at mini-implant placement sites.
Adult* ; Alveolar Process ; Bicuspid ; Bone Density* ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molar

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the buccolingual inclination of maxillary and mandibular molars in adults with different vertical facial types. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography images of 135 adult patients (age, 20–45 years) with skeletal Class I maxillomandibular relationships were assigned to normodivergent (n = 46), hypodivergent (n = 49), and hyperdivergent groups (n = 40) according to linear and angular sella-nasion/gonion-menton measurements. The normodivergent group consisted of 24 females and 22 males, hypodivergent group of 26 females and 23 males, and hyperdivergent group of 24 females and 16 males. Buccolingual inclination of the maxillary and mandibular first and second molars was measured relative to the occlusal plane. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparison. Gender differences were evaluated using independent t-tests. RESULTS: Buccolingual molar inclinations did not differ significantly between females and males (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among the buccolingual inclinations of the first and second maxillary and mandibular molars of the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Buccolingual inclinations of maxillary and mandibular molars are similar in normodivergent, hyperdivergent, and hypodivergent adults with Class I sagittal relationships.
Adult ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molar*