Analysis of Buccal Cortical Plate Thickness for Placement of Mini-Implants – A CBCT Study

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate buccal cortical bone thickness in the maxilla and mandible so as to provide guidelines for mini-implant placement. Cone beam computed tomographic scans of thirty patients (Age 16-30 years) were collected from preorthodontic records. Each measurement area was coded with a number beginning in the maxillary right quadrant distal to the second molar with number 1 and ending in the mandibular right quadrant distal to the second molar with number 30. For analysis these measurement areas were also grouped as sextants. Three measurement points were then defined at 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm from the alveolar crest in each measurement. The measuring locations were recorded on the four quadrants, resulting in 90 locations in the buccal cortical plate of maxillary and mandibular arch. The region of interest was explored at each measuring location of the 30 sites using Galileos software. The optimal site for miniimplant placement in the anterior region is between the central and lateral incisors in the maxilla and between the lateral incisor and the canine in the mandible at the 6-mm level from the alveolar crest. At the buccal aspect of the posterior region of both jaws, the optimal sites are between between the first and second molars i.e. in the Maxillary arch at 4 mm level on the right side and left side and in the Mandibular arch at 6 mm level on the right side and left side.