Objectives: To characterize how maxillary teeth move following non-extraction orthodontics facilitated by alveolar corticotomy and augmentation bone grafting. Methods: CT scans at pre-treatment (T1), post treatment (T2) and retention (T3) were evaluated on 6 patients who underwent corticotomy-facilitated, non-extraction orthodontics plus alveolar augmentation grafting in order to resolve maxillary dental arch crowding. SimPlant 3-dimensional software (version 8) was utilized to measure transverse dental arch widths from root tip to root tip and from cusp tip to cusp tip on all posterior contra-lateral teeth. Dental arch depth was measured from each upper incisor root tip and incisal edge to the mid-point of a reference line constructed from 1st and 2nd upper molar interproximal contact points bilaterally. Results: Wilcoxson Signed Ranks testing demonstrated that during orthodontic treatment (T1-T2), upper first premolar roots constricted 1.3mm (p=.046). Arch depth, as measured from mid-incisal edge to the reference line midpoint, increased .8mm (p=.046) during active orthodontic treatment for the upper left central incisor crown; arch depth from upper right and left lateral incisor crowns increased 1.7mm and 2.2mm respectively (p=.028). The study variables that changed during treatment remained stable (p>.05) during retention (T2-T3). Conclusions: Root tip movements for maxillary CT scan images were clearly delineated using the SimPlant 3-D software. Non-extraction, corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics resulted in upper incisor crown flaring.

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