Long‐term morphometric changes in the anterior alveolar bone in adolescents and adults after space closure: A retrospective study

Abstract Objectives To analyse the morphometric changes in the anterior alveolar bone of both the maxilla and mandible after space closure and retention for 18‐36 mo in adults and adolescents. Materials and Methods Forty‐two subjects with 4 first premolars extracted followed by retracting anterior teeth were included and divided into two age groups: adult group (4 males, 17 females, mean age: 23.67 ± 5.29 y, treatment duration: 27.95 mo, retention duration: 26.96 mo, ANB: 4.8 ± 2.1, U1‐L1: 117.2 ± 9.2, U1‐PP: 120.2 ± 7.2, L1‐MP: 99.2 ± 5.3) and adolescent group (6 males, 15 females, mean age: 11.52 ± 1.21 y, treatment duration: 26.18 mo, retention duration: 25.79 mo, ANB: 5.2 ± 2.1, U1‐L1: 116.0 ± 8.6, U1‐PP: 119.8 ± 4.9, L1‐MP: 99.7 ± 4.9). Alveolar bone height and thickness of anterior teeth in both groups were measured using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging performed at the pretreatment (T1), posttreatment (T2) and retention phases (T3). One‐way repeated‐measure ANOVAs were performed to evaluate the alveolar bone changes. Voxel‐based superimpositions were performed to measure the amount of tooth movement. Results After orthodontic treatment, the lingual bone height and thickness of both arches and the labial bone height of the mandible decreased significantly in both age groups ( P < .05). Most of the labial bone height and thickness of the maxilla in both groups remained unchanged ( P > .05). After retention, the lingual bone height and thickness increased significantly in both age groups ( P < .05). The amounts of increased height ranged from 1.08 to 1.64 mm in adults and from 0.78 to 1.21 mm in adolescents, and the amounts of increased thickness ranged from 0.23 mm to 0.62 mm in adults and from 0.16 mm to 0.36 mm in adolescents. Obvious movements of the anterior teeth during retention were not found ( P > .05). Conclusions Although lingual alveolar bone loss occurred in adolescents and adults during orthodontic treatment, continuous remodelling occurred in the later retention phase, which provides a reference for clinical treatment planning of bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion.