Bone thickness of the infrazygomatic and buccal regions for orthodontic anchorage in Peruvian patients: a descriptive study based on CBCT

Salgado F.M.E.; Iuga M.M. · Romanian Journal of Stomatology (2025) · DOI: 10.37897/rjs.2025.3.12

Resumen

Objective. To assess and compare cortical bone thickness in the infrazygomatic crest (IZC) and mandibular buccal shelf (MBS) regions among different age and sex groups using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), in order to determine optimal sites for orthodontic miniscrew anchorage. Materials and methods. This cross-sectional study included CBCT scans of 274 Peruvian patients aged 14-59 years. Cortical bone thickness was measured in the IZC and MBS regions at standard anatomical angles and depths. Patients were categorized by sex (male/female) and age group (youth: 14–25; adulthood: >25). Independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate differences between groups. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between age and bone thickness. Results. The mean cortical thickness in the IZC region ranged from 3.3 to 5.6 mm, with the greatest values observed at 70° and 60° angulations. In the MBS region, thickness values ranged from 8.5 to 11.0 mm, peaking at 7 mm depth distal to the mandibular second molar. No statistically significant differences were observed between youth and adult groups (p > 0.05), nor between sexes (p > 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed no significant relationship between age and cortical thickness (Pearson r = +0.03 for IZC, r = –0.03 for MBS). Conclusion. Cortical bone thickness in IZC and MBS regions remains stable across age and sex groups, with greatest values recorded at 70° and 60° in the IZC and at 7 mm depth in the MBS. These regions are consistently suitable as miniscrew anchorage sites in diverse patient populations.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada de Tacna; Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann