Morphometric evaluation of the alveolar bone around central incisors during surgical orthodontic treatment of high‐angle skeletal class III malocclusion

Objectives To evaluate morphometric characteristics of alveolar bone around the incisors of high‐angle skeletal class III patients receiving surgical orthodontic treatment. Setting and Sample Population Thirty high‐angle skeletal class III patients (mean age, 20.94 ± 3.25 years) underwent cone‐beam computed tomography before treatment (T0), after pre‐surgical orthodontic treatment (T1) and after treatment (T2). Materials and Methods The vertical bone level (VBL), alveolar bone thickness (ABT), alveolar bone area (ABA) and position of upper and lower central incisors (UCIs and LCIs) were evaluated. The ABT included five levels (4, 6, 8 mm from the cemento‐enamel junction, midroot and root apex level). One‐way repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple‐comparison test and matched t test was performed to compare variables. Results Before treatment, the average labial ABT was approximately 1 mm in UCIs and 0.38 ~ 0.79 mm in LCIs, and the VBL of the LCIs was over 2 mm. After treatment, the VBL increased by 2.19 ± 1.96 mm (P