Evaluation of Impacting Factors on Facial Bone Thickness in the Anterior Maxillary Region

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to measure the width of the labial alveolar bone of the overlying maxillary anterior teeth, based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and the distance between cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and bone crest in adult patients. A cross-sectional study was performed using a sample of 132 tomographic scans. Intact maxillary anterior with healthy periodontium and teeth was randomly selected and afterwards assessed by 2 calibrated and independent reviewers. The average bone thickness at 2 mm from the CEJ of the maxillary right central incisors was 0.63 ± 0.69 mm and over the maxillary left central incisors was 0.59 ± 0.71 mm. Moreover on the right and left lateral maxillary incisors, the crestal bone width averaged 0.64 ± 0.81 and 0.61 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. Concerning the maxillary canine region on both sides, the crestal bone thickness averaged 0.72 ± 0.9 and 0.66 ± 0.69 mm, in the maxillary right and left the canine regions, respectively. Furthermore, according to the gender and systemic disease, there were some recognizable differences in the facial bone thickness between the left and the right side. The current study has advocated the outcome of a mostly thin buccal bone overlying the maxillary anterior teeth; hence, clinicians should always consider the thickness of the facial cortical plate of the extraction site and the positioning of the implant placement in the socket.