Long‐Term Effect of Thin Interdental Alveolar Bone on Periodontal Health after Orthodontic Treatment

The present experiment was undertaken to determine if an interproximal area with a thin interdental bone septum following orthodontic treatment provides less resistance against marginal periodontal breakdown than an interproximal area with a normal width of bone between the roots. Only adult patients, at least 16 years after active orthodontic treatment, were studied. The distance between the roots was measured directly on periapical radiographs. Gingival health, level of attachment and bone level in sites with thin interdental bone were compared with neighboring or contralateral sites with a normal width of bone between the roots. No statistically significant differences in inflammation, level of attachment and clinical scores for bone level were observed. When measured radiographically the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar bone was significantly shorter in neighboring control sites (P less than 0.05). This discrepancy was most likely due to radiographic distortion. The results of this investigation suggest that in anterior areas marginal periodontal breakdown is unrelated to the thickness of bone between the roots. Too few molar sites were included to draw conclusions regarding such areas.