Root and alveolar bone changes in first premolars adjacent to the traction of buccal versus palatal maxillary impacted canines

Summary

Objective

To compare the root and alveolar bone changes in first premolars adjacent to the orthodontic traction of buccal versus palatal maxillary impacted canines (MIC).

Materials and methods

Before and after traction, cone beam tomographic computed (CBCTs) of 25 subjects with unilateral/bilateral MIC were included in this follow-up and retrospective study. Thirty-six first premolars were divided into 2 groups, buccal (n = 15) or palatal (n = 21) MIC, and the tomographic images were evaluated before and after orthodontic traction. Root changes in length and area were measured in sagittal, coronal and axial sections. Dimensions of alveolar bone were evaluated in coronal sections. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were performed using t or Mann-Whitney U tests. Multiple linear regressions analyses were used to evaluate the influence of all predictor variables on root and alveolar bone changes (P<0.05).

Results

Root and alveolar bone changes produced by orthodontic traction were not significant between groups. Root changes were smaller than 1 mm (length) and 2.51 mm² (area). Alveolar bone changes between buccal and palatal MIC groups ranged from 0.13 mm to 1.69 mm Furthermore, the multivariate analysis showed no significant influence of the impaction condition (buccal or palatal) on root change. Nevertheless, some different predictor variables of the MIC influence these changes. In the alveolar bone, the maximum upper alveolar width (MUAW) is the most affected by the traction of the MIC.

Conclusions

Orthodontic traction of buccal vs palatal MIC produces similar resorptive and appositional root and alveolar bone changes in the adjacent first premolars, without clinical relevance.

Keywords:

Teeth – Computed axial tomography – Orthodontics – Alveolar bone – Retrospective studies – Incisors

Introduction

One concern after the traction of a maxillary impacted canine (MIC) is the effect produced on neighboring structures. The most frequently identified sequel is root resorption (RR), which is defined as an irreversible change that is asymptomatic but produces undesirable consequences, and it has been primarily studied in the maxillary incisors [1, 2]. However, few studies [3, 4] have examined the effect of MIC traction in the first premolars. Woloshyn et al.[3] used conventional radiographs and found a shortening in root length (approximately 1.27 mm) compared to the unaffected contralateral side. Silva et al.,[5] using only a post treatment cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), did not find significant differences in root length and alveolar bone of the first premolars after traction of unilateral palatal MIC when they compared the affected side vs unaffected.

However, the use of 3D images in this topic are limited. The reports on pretreatment cone beam computed tomographies (CBCTs) primarily focused on the prevalence of RR in neighboring teeth, and it oscillated from 2.8% to 4.48% in first premolars [4, 5]. The side effects of MIC traction were primarily studied in periodontal soft tissues,[6, 7] but the changes in the alveolar bone of premolars adjacent to the maxillary impacted canine (PAMIC) and root length and area before and after traction of MIC they have not been studied yet.

There are reasons to think that the initial location of MIC and its subsequent treatment, could affect the root of the PAMIC and its alveolar bone in a different way if it by buccal or palatal. The canine in buccal cases may be impacted against the distal surface of the lateral incisor or beyond it, and frequently its root is located at the apex of the PAMIC and reaches the upper alveolar bone zone of this teeth. Otherwise, the crown in palatal cases may contact the posterior radicular incisor surface and its root is generally close to the PAMIC root, and both are in contact in many cases. Of the teeth adjacent to the MIC, the first premolar has the largest root, and it is a pillar or immediate anchorage element that directs the traction and determines the final position of the canine in many cases.

These aspects suggest that the initial position of MIC and its traction could influence the degree of RR and the surrounding alveolar bone of the PAMIC. Premolars are responsible for 30% to 40% of the masticatory efficiency [8]. Therefore, the finding of significant effects on the PAMIC and its alveolar bone after MIC traction would be relevantly clinically important for its long-term prognosis. However, no studies evaluated this issue. Therefore, the present study compared root and alveolar bone changes of PAMIC after the orthodontic traction of buccal versus palatal maxillary impacted canines.

Material and methods

The Ethics Committee of the Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima–Peru, approved this retrospective and follow-up study (protocol number 00007). Written informed consent was obtained for all participants and parents’ of minors and all data were fully anonymized before the researchers accessed them. This research evaluated 50 CBCTs (25 before and 25 after traction of MIC) from 25 patients treated at a private clinic (GARM). The sample (unit of analysis) consisted of 36 first premolars adjacent to permanent maxillary impacted canines that underwent traction until the occlusal plane. All MIC were classified into two groups according to location of impaction, i.e., buccal MIC (15) and palatal MIC (21) [9]. Table 1. This condition was defined on CBCT axial cuts that evaluated the following parameters: position of the MIC crown in relation to a midline drawn between the two cortical layers, and its location in relation to the neighboring lateral incisor or temporary canine.

A minimum sample size of 14 teeth per group was necessary to have 80% of power, to detect a difference between groups of 1.60 mm in the maximum upper alveolar width (MUAW), using a standard deviation of 2.46 mm (obtained from a previous pilot study) and with a level of significance of 0.05.

CBCTs were obtained at pretreatment (T₀) and after orthodontic traction of MIC when the canine reached the occlusal plane (T₁). The following inclusion criteria were used: patients older than 12 years of both sexes with buccal or palatal MIC; unilateral or bilateral impaction; PAMIC erupted, uniradicular or with roots fused into one, with complete apical closure at the beginning of the orthodontic traction; and no loss of permanent teeth. Patients with craniofacial anomalies or syndromes, periapical lesions circumscribed to the MIC at pretreatment, a history of previous orthodontic treatment, history of trauma or supernumerary teeth in the impaction zone were excluded.

The complete clinical records of each patient were registered, including demographic information, study models, intra- and extraoral photographs, panoramic and lateral radiographs and CBCTs.

Skeletal sagittal relationships (ANB[10] and APDI[11]) were evaluated on lateral radiographs. All characteristics of the MIC (sector, height, α and β angles) and the duration of orthodontic traction were also registered.[9] The diagnosis of impaction sector was applied on panoramic images synthesized from CBCTs according to Ericson and Kurol´s classification [12]. (Fig 1).

All CBCT scans were obtained using a PaX-Uni 3D (Vatech Co., Ltd., Hwaseong, South Korea) with the following parameters: 4.7 mA, 89 KVp and exposure time 15 seconds. Each field of view mode was 8 cm x 8 cm, with a voxel size of 0.2 mm. DICOM images were analyzed with Dolphin-3D software (version 11.8 Dolphin Imaging, Chatsworth, CA, USA) using multiplanar and 3D reconstructions.

Initial root measurements

DICOM images were analyzed using the same software. Coronal, sagittal and axial sections of each PAMIC were obtained. The corresponding section was aligned with the longitudinal tooth axis in the coronal and sagittal planes via locating the largest mesiodistal diameter of the premolar crown perpendicular to the sagittal plane in the coronal section and perpendicular to the coronal plane in the sagittal section (Fig 2). Root lengths were measured in mm from the center of a line that connected the buccal-palatal or mesial-distal enamel-cement junction (in the coronal or sagittal sections, respectively) to the vertex of premolar radicular apex (TL: total length). In the event of presence of any root dilaceration, the TL was measured as the sum of the root length before dilaceration LBD plus root length after dilaceration LAD (Figs 3 and 4).

PAMIC root areas in mm² were evaluated beginning from the buccal enamel-cement junction along the contour of the entire root until the palatal enamel-cement junction in the coronal section, and from the distal enamel-cement junction along the root contour until the mesial enamel-cement junction in the sagittal section. Root areas in axial views were measured at three sectors. Sectors were defined by dividing the total root length of the sagittal section into thirds. The areas at the upper limit of the cervical and middle thirds and the area of the root zone of dilaceration origin were measured in the axial sections. (Fig 5).

Initial measurement of the alveolar bone

The premolar was aligned with the axial axis of each tomographic section. Buccal alveolar thickness (BAT) and palatal alveolar thickness (PAT) were measured from the outermost root surface of each side to the outermost surface of the palatal and buccal cortical bones, respectively. This same section was aligned with the alveolar axial axis (AAA), and a perpendicular line representing the maximum upper alveolar width (MUAW) was drawn. The perpendicular distances from MUAW to the edge of the premolar bone crest were measured on the buccal (buccal bone height, BBH) and palatal sides (palatal bone height, PBH) (Fig 6). Table 2.

Canine traction technique

Traction was performed following a strict orthodontic protocol in all cases using an individualized rigid anchorage device that included an acrylic palatal button soldered onto first permanent molar bands and multiple palatal-occlusal-vestibular soldered hooks of 0.028" stainless steel wire. (Fig 7). The surgical technique selected was closed,[13] but exceptionally an open technique was necessary [14]. The orthodontic treatment included bracket slots of 0.022" x 0.028" (Synergy RMO, Inc., Rocky Mountain Orthodontics Denver, Colorado, USA). The buccal hooks of the anchor were used to fasten the buckles of NiTi closed coil springs 0.010 "x 0.036", 13 mm long and 150 g force (Dentos Inc. Daegu, Korea) to perform intraosseous transalveolar traction until the MIC reached the occlusal plane. CBCTs (T1) were taken at this moment using the same technical characteristics of the initial CBCT to control the treatment and supervise the RR of maxillary incisors [15, 16]. All of the necessary procedures to complete the orthodontic treatment were performed.

Final measurement of roots and bone changes

The root lengths and area and alveolar bone variables on this second CBCT (T₁) were measured in the same sections. To measure changes in each PAMIC and the surrounding alveolar bone, the final value (T₁) was subtracted from the initial value (T₀). Positive values of the difference indicated resorptive changes, and negative values indicated appositional changes.

Reliability

Three orthodontists performed the diagnosis of impaction. Interobserver diagnostic and positional agreement was assessed using the Kappa coefficient. Values greater than 0.9 were obtained. The primary evaluator for quantitative variables repeated their measurements after a 30-day interval. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate intraobserver agreement. All values were greater than 0.9. Random errors were calculated using Dahlberg’s formula, and the results were smaller than 1 mm or 1 mm².

Statistical analyses

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows (version 19.0; IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics of root changes in mm and area in mm² of each first premolar adjacent to the traction of buccal or palatal MIC were calculated. Data normality was determined using the Shapiro-Wilk’s test. Intergroup comparisons were performed using t or Mann-Whitney U tests, depending on data normality. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the influence of each variable on root and alveolar bone changes, considering all of the variables as predictors (overfit method). Statistical significance was set at P<0.05 for all tests.

Results

The sample initial characteristics are summarized in Table 3. No significant differences were found in intra- or intergroup comparisons of root changes of PAMIC in coronal, sagittal and axial sections. The changes in millimeters and areas between groups were smaller than 1 mm and 2.51 mm² in both groups (Table 4) S1 Database.

Alveolar bone changes of PAMIC in thickness, width and height were not significantly different in intra- or intergroup comparisons. Changes between buccal and palatal MIC groups ranged from 0.13 mm to 1.69 mm (Table 5).

The linear regression models, considering root changes as outcome variables, did not significantly influence the impaction condition (buccal or palatal) on root changes. However, the ANB angle (P = 0.034) and duration of traction (P = 0.010) significantly influenced the total length (TL) change in the sagittal section. APDI (P = 0.008) significantly influenced the changes in root area in the upper limit of the cervical third in the axial section, and age (P = 0.047) significantly influenced the root area change in the upper limit of the middle third of the axial section (Table 6).

Similarly, the linear regression models showed no significant influence of the impaction condition (buccal or palatal) on alveolar bone changes. However, buccal alveolar thickness (BAT) was significantly influenced by the height of the MIC (P = 0.037). Palatal alveolar thickness (PAT) was influenced by the APDI (P = 0.043). The maximum upper alveolar width (MUAW) was significantly influenced by sex (P = 0.001), SNA (P<0.001), ANB (P = 0.011), APDI (P = 0.017), maxillary length (P<0.001), duration of traction (P = 0.003), and impaction sector (P = 0.002). Buccal bone height (BBH) was significantly influenced by the ANB (P = 0.007) and β angle (P = 0.033). Palatal bone height (PBH) was influenced by age (P = 0.001), maxillary length (P = 0.001) and impaction sector (P = 0.034) (Table 7).

Discussion

The present study compared root and alveolar bone changes of the first premolars adjacent to the orthodontic traction of buccal versus palatal MIC and determined which factors affected these changes. We use a reproducible method that described its morphology in three planes of space and used measurements of length and areas. This method was previously used in two studies to evaluate the RR of incisors after the traction of the unilateral vs bilateral MIC[16] and according to its complexity [15]. The findings of similar studies cannot be compared with ours because of the differences in the radiographic technique and the methodology used. In the study by Woloshyn et al.,[3] they used periapical radiographs, and in the retrospective study by Silva et al.,[5] the bone changes were compared with the unaffected side, on CBCT post-treatment of unilateral palatal MIC, and this is not optimal. Therefore, to compare the changes before and after the traction of the same side according to the location of the MIC is the central objective of the present article.

This report is the first study to establish these three-dimensional comparisons in the first premolars after orthodontic traction of MIC. It is important to clarify that the CBCTs used in this study were required to visualize the consequences of the traction on MIC and on the non-impacted teeth at the end of MIC traction. This evaluation is based on the statement by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology[17], which recommends tomographic supervision according to the complexity of the case and the need for follow up of possible RR and the undesirable effects of orthodontic traction on neighboring structures. The CBCT indicates when 2D images are not sufficient [15, 16, 18].

The sample in the present study was limited exclusively to uniradicular premolars because of the great difficulty in the standardization of a reliable method of measurement in a sample composed of biradicular or three-radicular PAMIC. However, we achieved the minimum required sample size. Furthermore, the prevalence of uniradicular premolars is remarkable. Abella et al.[19] reported in their study a prevalence of uniradicular of 46% in the Spanish population, but mentions that it has been reported up to 60% in the Chinese population.

This aspect allows us to extrapolate our results with almost half of the population, even further if we take into account that we include in the sample premolars with roots fused into one. Our results do not reflect all of the possible evaluations of root morphology, but it provides an approximation of the tissue response to the traction of MIC on the first premolar and the surrounding alveolar bone.

The intergroup comparisons did not show significant differences for the root or alveolar bone changes of PAMIC after MIC traction. Our hypothesis suggests that the PAMIC suffers greater root resorption and alveolar changes depending on the condition of MIC (buccal or palatal) and as a consequence of the traction process. This idea was based on some factors, such as the different bone configurations between these two conditions, different eruption direction between buccal and palatal MIC to a probable friction between roots in the traction process, and the typical morphology of PAMIC. However, differences between groups were not observed. The results in both groups showed primarily resorption, which has not become clinically relevant because it does not exceed 1 mm of length or 2 mm² of area. The presence of negative values in these analyses, primarily root area change in the cervical and middle third, indicates and appositional root changes in PAMIC. More studies using a similar methodology should be performed to confirm our results.

Multiple regression analysis showed a significant influence of some skeletal sagittal variables (ANB and APDI) and maxillary size and position (SNA) on the root change of PAMIC caused by the orthodontic traction of the MIC at the level of total length in the sagittal section and the area of ​​the limit of the cervical third in the axial section and on the alveolar bone in PAT, BBH, PBH and mainly in MUAW. Our findings show great sensitivity in this last area because most variables were considered in this study, which were responsible for 88% of this change. These findings show the changes in maxilla dimensions when a canine is impacted and reflect a great dynamic in this area, which was likely due to the contact between the roots of the MIC and the PAMIC during traction.

The present analysis also showed that a longer the duration of traction produced more RR in the sagittal LT and more bone loss in the MUAW. More RR in an older patient will have the axial area in the middle third of the PAMIC and more bone loss in PBH. More bone loss at the BBH level will be present as the beta angle increases. MUAW and PBH will be more affected by the traction if the MIC is further away from the middle line because the traction will have to traverse a longer distance; The BAT tended to decrease with traction when the MIC was farther from the occlusal plane because its small dimensions focused on the behavior of the buccal cortical. These important findings should be considered in the initial planning and prognosis of buccal or palatal MIC treatment, and the results justify future studies specifically focused on these aspects.

Conclusions

• The traction of a buccal vs palatal MIC produces similar changes in the root and the alveolar bone of the PAMIC of resorption and apposition, but these alterations are not significant.

• The orthodontic traction of MIC is not a risk for radicular integrity and alveolar bone support of the first premolars adjacent to MIC.

Supporting information

S1 Database [xlsx]
Premolars.