THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LOWER CENTRAL INCISAL INCLINATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE SUPPORTING ALVEOLAR BONE — A LATERAL CEPHALOGRAM STUDY

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: To study the relationship between mandibular central incisor inclination with the alveolar bone structure supporting it.

Materials and Methodology: A total of 40 patients with mean age of 15.75 years with standard deviation of 2.67 were randomly selected from the Outpatient department of Karachi Medical & Dental College. As part of orthodontic treatment planning the patients were required to have lateral cephalogram investigation done which covers the required region of central incisors, supporting alveolar bone and mandible. The cephalometric parameters were designed and measured to indicate the inclination of lower central incisor and physical morphology of the adjacent alveolar bone structure. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 14.0 for windows. A correlation analysis and simple linear regression analysis was done between the incisal inclination and morphology of alveolar bone structure.

Results: A positive relation, which was very significant (p<0.05), was found between the incisal inclination and the contour of the alveolar bone structure. The thickness of lingual alveolar bone was reduced considerably when the incisal inclination increased buccally which can result in bony dehiscence during tooth movement.

Conclusion: The morphology of supporting alveolar bone is correlated with the mandibular central incisal inclination.