Vertical alveolar growth in subjects with infraoccluded mandibular deciduous molars

IntroductionOur objective was to compare vertical alveolar growth in areas adjacent to infraoccluded deciduous molars with growth in areas of deciduous molars and normal occlusion for a period of at least 1 year by using digital subtraction radiography.MethodsThis case-control study included 40 pairs of panoramic radiographs of growing patients with infraoccluded deciduous molars and 40 pairs of radiographs of patients without infraoccluded deciduous molars. One radiograph at baseline was obtained at diagnosis, and the other at least 1 year later. The subjects and the controls were matched according to chronologic age and time interval between the 2 radiographs. The 2 groups were compared with regard to vertical alveolar growth and vertical tooth movement. Measurements were assessed by using nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney and Friedman) and a multiple comparison test. Significance was set at 5%.ResultsA statistically significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to vertical alveolar growth measured on the bone crest between the first permanent molars and second premolars.ConclusionsVertical alveolar growth between the first permanent molar and the second premolar adjacent to the infraoccluded teeth was smaller than in areas adjacent to teeth with normal occlusion.