Abstract
Objectives: The ability to move tooth trough alveolar bone is one of the basic principles in orthodontics. Mechanical force generated by orthodontic appliance is transferred to periodontal ligament resulting in the remodeling of alveolar bone.
Tooth movement is enabled by apposition and resorption of bone tissue. Process of bone remodeling can be used in order to create new bone in certain clinical situations.
Early loss or agenesis of tooth is followed by the atrophy of alveolar ridge. Bone formation and implant site development by tooth movement is an interesting alternative to surgical bone augmentation techniques.
Number of studies prove that long term stability of bone created trough orthodontic movement is much better than in case of surgical augmentative procedures. Implant site development by orthodontic extrusion of nonrestorable tooth prior to implant placement is another option for improving alveolar bone and gingival characteristics.
Periodontal one-wall osseous defects are treated most efficiently by orthodontic tooth movement. Conclusion: Methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis of alveolar crest formed during tooth movement had been very limited until recently.
Available radiographic imagining techniques were not accurate enough to allow the precise assessment of changes in the level of remodelated alveolar bone. Technology of Cone Beam CT (CBCT) has revolutionized the bone analysis and high precision measurements during last decade.
In spite of all advantages being brought by CBCT some limitations and restrictions ought to be taken into account when analyzing CT scans.