OBJECTIVE: To assess bone thickness for miniscrew placement in the mandible during mixed
dentition by using digital volumetric tomograph (DVT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 15 healthy patients aged 8-10 years old, with early exfoliated
mandibular second deciduous molar, were included. DVT images of one quadrant of
the mandible were obtained using Kodak extraoral imaging systems and analyzed by
Kodak dental imaging software. The error of the method (EM) was calculated using
Dahlberg's formula. Mean and standard deviation were calculated at 6 and 8 mm from
the cementoenamel junction (CEJ).Paired t-test was used to analyze the
measurements. RESULTS: Buccal cortical bone thickness, mesiodistal width and buccolingual bone depth at
6 mm were found to be 1.73 + 0.41, 2.15 + 0.49 and 13.18 + 1.22 mm, respectively;
while at 8 mm measurements were 2.42 + 0.34, 2.48 + 0.33 and 13.65 + 1.25 mm,
respectively. EM for buccal cortical bone thickness, mesiodistal width and
buccolingual bone depth was 0.58, 0.40 and 0.48, respectively. The difference in
measurement at 6 and 8 mm for buccal cortical plate thickness (P < 0.05) and
buccolingual bone thickness (P < 0.05) was found to be significant, whereas for
mesiodistal width it was insignificant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Bone thickness measurement has shown promising evidence for safe placement of
miniscrews in the mandible during mixed dentition. The use of miniscrew is the
best alternative, even in younger patients.
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