Alveolar bone loss around lower incisors during surgical orthodontic treatment in mandibular prognathism

Objectives: To evaluate the alveolar bone loss around lower incisors incurred during surgical orthodontic treatment in individuals with mandibular prognathism. Materials and Methods: The samples consisted of 25 patients (13 men, 12 women; mean ages: 26.3 +/- 2.7 years) treated with jaw surgery and orthodontic treatment. Lateral and frontal cephalograms and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the patients were obtained before treatment (T0) and after presurgical orthodontic treatment (T1) and after debonding (T2). After measurement of variables, repeated-measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test and Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were performed. Results: The lower central and lateral incisors showed that the vertical alveolar bone level and the alveolar bone thickness of the labial and lingual plates were reduced after presurgical orthodontic treatment but were not deteriorated during postsurgical orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: Excessive forward movement of lower incisors during presurgical orthodontic treatment could cause alveolar bone loss around the lower incisors; thus, special care should be considered in individuals with mandibular prognathism. (Angle Orthod. 2012;82:637-644.)