Thomas M. Graber Award of Special Merit Lecture: Effects of Transverse, Bodily Movements of Maxillary Premolars on the Surrounding Hard Tissue

Transverse maxillary deficiencies and crowding are common problems often treated with archwire-assisted expansion. Well-documented negative effects of dentoalveolar expansion include dental tipping and loss of buccal alveolar bone. This presentation will answer the following questions: If excessive tipping can be avoided, will dehiscences be eliminated and will bone form along the buccal periosteal surface? The answers to these questions are fundamental for understanding the clinical effects and possible limitations of archwire expansion.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate that new bone forms on the buccal periosteal surface during and shortly after tooth movement when teeth are buccally translated with minimal tipping.
• Show that despite periosteal bone gain, a net decrease in buccal bone thickness occurs in response to buccal translatory movements.