Dehiscence and fenestration in patients with Class I and Class II Division 1 malocclusion assessed with cone-beam computed tomography

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the presence of alveolar defects (dehiscence and fenestration) in patients with Class I and Class II Division 1 malocclusions and different facial types. Methods: Seventy-nine Class I and 80 Class II patients with no previous orthodontic treatment were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. The sample included 4319 teeth. All teeth were analyzed by 2 examiners who evaluated sectional images in axial and cross-sectional views to check for the presence or absence of dehiscence and fenestration on the buccal and lingual surfaces. Results: Dehiscence was associated with 51.09% of all teeth, and fenestration with 36.51%. The Class I malocclusion patients had a greater prevalence of dehiscence: 35% higher than those with Class II Division 1 malocclusion (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the facial types. Conclusions: Alveolar defects are a common finding before orthodontic treatment, especially in Class I patients, but they are not related to the facial types. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2010; 138: 133.e1-133.