Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Aug 2017

Facial Alveolar Bone Width at the First and Second Maxillary Premolars in Healthy Patients: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

DDS,
DDS, PhD,
DDS, PhD, and
MD, PhD
Page Range: 261 – 265
DOI: 10.1563/aaid-joi-D-16-00195
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the thickness of the facial alveolar bone at the first and second maxillary premolars and determinate the percentage of premolars that reached 2 mm in width. A retrospective study was performed, analyzing cone beam computed tomography scans from the database of the Oral Surgery Unit of the University of Valencia. Patients with periodontal disease, orthodontic treatment, absence among the first maxillary molars, premolars with endodontic treatment, or prosthetic restorations were excluded. The facial alveolar bone width was measured at 1, 2, 3, and 5 mm apical to the vestibular bone peak. A total of 44 patients were included in the study, with 72 first premolars and 72 second premolars analyzed. A descriptive analysis was performed and the normal means were assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The average width of the facial alveolar bone at first and second maxillary premolars was respectively: 1.41 ± 0.50 and 1.72 ± 0.56 at 1 mm, 1.68 ± 0.72 and 2.23 ± 0.66 at 2 mm, 1.71 ± 0.89 and 2.43 ± 0.82 at 3 mm, 1.44 ± 1.00 and 2.31 ± 1.06 at 5 mm from the vestibular bone peak. The facial alveolar bone width at the second maxillary premolars was greater than at the first maxillary premolars at all points measured. This information should be taken in account when planning immediate implants. Further studies are needed to analyze bone resorption at maxillary premolars to better understand facial alveolar bone width influence in implant treatment.

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  <sc>Figure 1</sc>
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Figure 1

(a) Slice location in the axial plane was along the center of the premolar's root, at the height of the bone ridge. (b) Slice location in the sagittal plane was along the long axis of the premolar's root.


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  <sc>Figure 2</sc>
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Figure 2

Measurements at the coronal slice. Line A: line of reference along the longitudinal axis of the premolar. Line B: line of reference perpendicular to the long axis of the premolar at the level of bone crest. Lines C: lines of reference 1, 2, 3, and 5 mm apical to the bone crest and parallel to line A. Line D: measurement from the CEJ to the vestibular bone peak. Lines E: measurements of the facial alveolar bone thickness, parallels to line B, and with reference to lines C.


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  <sc>Figure 3</sc>
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Figure 3

Graphic of facial alveolar bone thickness of all maxillary premolars at the different levels under the bone crest.


Contributor Notes

Corresponding author, e-mail: miguel.penarrocha@uv.es
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