Şerife ŞAHİN KITIKİ, Ayşenur DİNDAR, Rana ÖNCEL
Meandros Medical and Dental Journal - 2026;27(3):519-525
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the early clinical failure of orthodontic mini-screws. Materials and Methods: This single-center observational pilot study included 28 patients divided into two groups: failed mini-screws (n = 14) and successful mini-screws (n = 14). Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured within the first month following mini-screw placement using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Mini-screw outcomes were assessed based on clinical stability during the first month after placement. Statistical analyses were performed using the independent-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test, as appropriate. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Serum 25(OH)D levels ranged from 3.67 to 30.99 µg/L in the failure group and from 4.96 to 19.47 µg/L in the success group. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not differ significantly between the failed and successful mini-screw groups (median [IQR]: 10.02 [16.06] vs. 9.04 [9.16] µg/L; Mann-Whitney U = 95.0, p = 0.910). No significant associations were observed between mini-screw outcome and age, sex, insertion site, or season of placement. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this pilot observational study, serum 25(OH)D levels were not significantly associated with early orthodontic mini-screw failure. Larger prospective studies are needed to clarify the potential role of vitamin D in mini-screw stability.
