Evaluation of Maxillary Alveolar Ridge Morphology and Residual Bone for Implant Placement by Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the morphology and dimension of maxillary alveolar ridge at anterior and posterior regions using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) prior to the placement of immediate implants. CBCT scans of 192 patients were evaluated. Measurements were taken at the cross sectional views in the maxillary central incisor, lateral incisor, canine incisor, first and second premolars and first and second molars regions. Alveolar ridge width and height, buccal plate thickness, buccal undercut, inter-root septum height, and root penetration to sinus floor were measured. Independent T-test was used for statistical analysis. The mean value of alveolar height in the maxillary incisors were higher than the posterior teeth with central incisors having the highest value of 19.23 ± 8.74 mm. At anterior maxilla, the lateral incisor with the mean value of 1.07 ± 0.64 mm exhibits the highest buccal undercut and the thinnest ridge width. At the site of posterior regions premolars had higher buccal undercut than molars. Canine with the mean value of 0.19 ± 0.31 mm thickness at the mid-alveolar of buccal plate, had the thinnest plate among other maxillary incisors. Sinus penetration and inter-root septum height were higher in premolar teeth than molars. The mean value of ridge width at all levels was significantly different between men and women, except at the level of crest in central incisor. CBCT evaluation presents accurate measurements for ridge assessment prior to immediate implant insertion. The recommended appropriate size of implant platform would be 5 mm in the incisor and almost 6 mm in premolar region.