Morphologic evaluation of dentoalveolar structures of mandibular anterior teeth during augmented corticotomy-assisted decompensation

•Treatment effects of augmented corticotomy for skeletal Class III malocclusion are presented.•Augmented corticotomy provided a favorable outcome after decompensation of the mandibular anterior teeth.•The 6 mandibular anterior teeth were all evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography data.•Significant vertical alveolar bone loss was observed only in the control group.•Favorable responses were obtained on incisal thirds of the alveolus and alveolar crest without using a barrier membrane.

IntroductionOur aim in this study was to evaluate the effect of augmented corticotomy on the decompensation pattern of mandibular anterior teeth, alveolar bone, and surrounding periodontal tissues during presurgical orthodontic treatment.MethodsThirty skeletal Class III adult patients were divided into 2 groups according to the application of augmented corticotomy labial to the anterior mandibular roots: experimental group (with augmented corticotomy, n = 15) and control group (without augmented corticotomy, n = 15). Lateral cephalograms and cone-beam computed tomography images were taken before orthodontic treatment and before surgery. The measurements included the inclination and position of the mandibular incisors, labial alveolar bone area, vertical alveolar bone height, root length, and alveolar bone thickness at 3 levels surrounding the mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines.ResultsThe mandibular incisors were significantly proclined in both groups (P <0.001); however, the labial movement of the incisor tip was greater in the experimental group (P <0.05). Significant vertical alveolar bone loss was observed only in the control group (P <0.001). The middle and lower alveolar thicknesses and labial alveolar bone area increased in the experimental group. In the control group, the upper and middle alveolar thicknesses and labial alveolar bone area decreased significantly. There were no significant differences in dentoalveolar changes between the 3 kinds of anterior teeth in each group, except for root length in the experimental group (P <0.05).ConclusionsAugmented corticotomy provided a favorable decompensation pattern of the mandibular incisors, preserving the periodontal structures surrounding the mandibular anterior teeth for skeletal Class III patients.