Root proximity of miniscrews at a variety of maxillary and mandibular buccal sites: Reliability of panoramic radiography.

Objectives: To assess the root proximity and the insertion angles of miniscrews after miniscrew placement at a variety of maxillary and mandibular buccal sites using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to determine the differences in root proximity between CBCT and panoramic radiography (PR). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 50 patients (mean age, 22.0 +/- 6 4.5 years) who underwent postoperative CBCT and PR after miniscrew placements for intermaxillary fixation in orthognathic surgery. Twelve miniscrews were placed in the buccal bone of each patient: at sites between the central incisor and lateral incisor (SII), sites between the canine and first premolar (SCP), and sites between the second premolar and first molar (SPM) on the right and left sides of the mandible and maxilla. The insertion angles were measured on CBCT, and the root proximity was assessed on CBCT and PR. Results: The mean vertical placement angles ranged from 84.27 degrees to 95.12 degrees, and the mean horizontal placement angles ranged from 90.93 degrees to 101.1 degrees. The rates of no contact between the root and the miniscrew were 68.0% in the SII, 50.5% in the SCP, and 57.8% in the SPM, which were significantly different (P=.000). The total concordance rate between PR and CBCT was 41.3%. Conclusions: Clinicians should use extreme caution during placement of miniscrews in the SCP. There are limitations on the use of PR for evaluating the root proximity of miniscrews.