A CBCT measurement of the mandibular buccal bone thickness in dentate adults

Abstract

AbstractAimThis study aims to measure the mandibular cortical bone thickness and the proximity of the tooth roots and the inferior alveolar canal to the outer cortex using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and methodsEighty CBCT scans were analysed. Buccal cortical plate and trabecular bone thickness were measured. Measurements of canine, first premolar, second premolar, first molar and second molar regions were taken at following levels: cortical plate thickness at the level of the midpoint of the midapical third of the root and at the level of apex, cortical plate and trabecular bone thickness at the level of the midpoint of the midapical third of the root, at the level of apex and at the level of inferior alveolar canal.ResultsCortical bone thickness was greatest at the second molar region with 2.66 ± 0.72 at the root's midapical third, 3.27 ± 0.52 at the apex and 3.12 ± 0.64 at the level of the canal. Cortical plate and trabecular bone thickness was greatest at the second molar region with 4.72 ± 0.86 at the midapical third, 6.49 ± 0.8 at the apex and 5.3 ± 0.6 at the level of the canal.ConclusionsThickness of the outer cortex as well as the distance from cortex to canal and root is greatest at the second molar region, allowing placement of 4 mm monocortical screws safely and providing better implant stability and a thicker bone graft.