Is there a relationship between mandibular cortical bone thickness and orthodontic treatment time?

Objectives: To determine whether there was a correlation between patients' bone thickness and time spent in orthodontic treatment. The secondary aim was to study the influence of Angle classification, extraction treatment, and age on overall treatment duration.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, records of 971 orthodontic patients from two centers were reviewed and 500 subjects were included after imposing inclusion/exclusion criteria. The Mental Index was used to determine patients' bone density. For the Mental Index, a line perpendicular to the inferior border of the mandible was drawn on a panoramic radiograph so that it intersected the inferior border of the mental foramen. The mandibular cortical thickness was measured along this line. Two-sample t-test or a chi-square test, followed by multiple linear regression, were used to identify the factors affecting treatment duration.

Results: Mandibular cortical thickness was negatively associated with treatment time for all subjects (P < .05). After adjusting for covariables, it remained significant for center-1, but non-significant for center-2 subjects. Angle Class II and Class III malocclusion, extraction therapy, and age had significant positive correlations with treatment duration (P < .05).

Conclusions: There is a negative correlation between the mandibular cortical thickness and orthodontic treatment duration. An extraction treatment plan and treatment of Angle Class II and Class III malocclusions significantly increase the duration of orthodontic treatment. Additionally, patients over 12 years of age have shorter treatment times compared to patients under 12 years of age.