Comparative radiographic evaluation of the alveolar bone crest after orthodontic treatment.

This study evaluated and compared the heights of the alveolar bone crests (AC) among orthodontic patients treated with either the simplified standard edgewise technique (group 1, n = 30), the edgewise straight-wire system (group 2, n = 30), or bioefficient therapy (group 3, n = 26). These 3 groups were compared with an untreated control group (group 4, n = 30). A comparison by sex of AC height was also conducted. The first premolars were extracted in every treated patient, and measurements were performed on bitewing radiographs taken after a mean posttreatment period of 2.17 years. The distances from the AC to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) on the mesial and distal surfaces of the first molars and second premolars and on the distal surface of the canines were measured; the larger the distance, the greater the alveolar bone loss. The data were analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance and the Newman-Keuls test (P <.05) for comparison among the groups. Sex differences of the AC height were evaluated with the t test. All treated groups had larger, statistically significant CEJ-AC distances than the untreated group, primarily at the extraction areas. There were no consistent statistically significant differences in the areas among the treated groups. Mean distances of the CEJ-AC in boys were larger than or similar to those in girls. The patients in the treated groups showed a greater number of proximal surfaces with statistically significant differences between sexes, compared with the control subjects.