Assessment of anterior maxillary alveolar bone dimensions and morphology for immediate implant planning: A retrospective study using Planmeca Promax CBCT unit

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the dimensions and morphology of the alveolar bone in the maxillary central, lateral and canine regions and to correlate these findings with the age and gender of each subject to provide detailed information for immediate implant planning.Subjects & methods: 112 CBCT scans of both genders with non-extracted maxillary right central, lateral and canine were obtained from the database of the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. For each of the three right maxillary anterior teeth bone height was measured from the crest of the ridge till the nasal floor. The bone width was measured at three levels, namely the cervical, the middle and the apical level. The presence and depth of buccal undercuts was also assessed at the three locations. Additionally, the cross-sectional morphology of the alveolar ridge was determined and classified into three different types.Results: The results of this study showed that the bone height at the right central incisor had the least values; meanwhile the canine had the greatest values. Regarding the bone width, the region of the lateral incisor had the thinnest alveolar ridge at the three levels. In all the three locations however, the alveolar width was greater apically than cervically. Besides, the lateral incisor region showed the highest prevalence for presence of buccal undercuts. The greatest depth of buccal undercut however was found in the canine region, meanwhile the smallest depth was found in the central incisor region. For the cross-sectional morphology, Type I (bell-shape) was the most common in all three locations while Type III (hourglass-shape) was the least common. Age did not affect any of the examined parameters. Males showed more height and width of the alveolar bone, while females showed higher prevalence and greater depth of buccal undercuts in all three locations. Males also showed a greater prevalence of Type I (bell-shape) cross-sectional alveolar bone shape, meanwhile females showed a greater prevalence of Type II (trapezoid-shape) and Type III (hourglass-shape).